Smsishing Through 

**The World War" 



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SMASHING THROUGH 
"THE WORLD WAR" 



With fighting battery C. 




102nd F. A. 

"Yankee Division" 

1917—1918—1919 



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BY 



LIEUT. EDWARD D. SIROIS 

AND 

CORP. WILLIAM McGINNIS 

REVISED BV 

LIEUT. JOHN HOGAN 



COPYRIGHT 1919 



THE MEEK PRESS. SALEM. MAES. 



utu "5 1919 



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TABLE OF CONTENTS 



CHAPTER TITLE PAGE 

Title page I 

Table of contents Ill 

List of Illustrations IV 

Introduction V 

Dedication VI 

In Flanders Fields (Poem) VII 

Gen'l. Clarence R. Edward's letter of appreciation VIII 

Gen'l. John H. Sherburne's letter of recommendation IX 

Skeleton Hist, of Battery C before the present war X 

Col. John F. J. Herbert's letter of endorsement .... XII 

1 "The Call to Arms" 1 

2 "Mobilization" 3 

3 "Off to France" 16 

4 "The Training Period" 25 

5 "Soissons — B'ucy-le-Long — Chemin-des-Dames" 30 

6 "Off to Lorraine" 42 

7 "Toul Sector — Seichprey — Xivray — 'Dead Man's 

Curve' " 47 

8 "Off for a Rest Camp (?)" 60 

9 "The Chateau-Thierry Drive or the Second Battle 

of the Marne" 65 

10 "The Return from the Drive — Our Third Theoretical 

Rest Camp" 90 

11 "The Battle of the St. Mihiel Salient^Massing for 

the Drive — Reducing of the Salient" 98 

12 "A So-Called Rest— The Troyon or New England 

Sector — Marcheville and Riaville" 108 

13 "Verdun — Meuse — Argonne — Armistice" 112 

14 "U. S. Army Service and Training Schools in 

France" 118 

15 "Wounded— A Peep Behind the Veil" 126 

16 "Awaiting Orders for Home" 132 

17 "Headed for Home" 141 

18 "God's Country" 146 

19 "Demobilization" 158 

20 "Back to Civies" 162 

General Statistics 166 

The American Legion 175 

III 



UST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



Majoi' Gen'l. Clarence R. Edwards addressing Lawrence Soldiers 

— Troyon Sector opposite page VIII 

Col. J. F. J. Herbert — photographic reproduction opposite page XII ^ 

Capt. William F. Howe Jr.— "The Fighting Skipper."— photog- 
raphic reproduction opposite page 1 

Remains of a '75 Caisson — 1st. Section Battery C, — Picking up 

remains of comrades — 4th. Section Battery C opposite page 16 

Special detail on reconnaissance — The Mongolia — Grave of 
Everett Roy Kenney — Special detail resting — "Are we hap- 
py"? "You bet we are." opposite page 29 / 

Lt. Edward D. Sirois — Sgt. William I. Hart — Ruins of house 

Bucy-le-Long — Mail day, ruins of church opposite page 36 / 

All set for a mustard gas attack — Officers figuring firing data — 
Cpl. William McGinnis — Mus. Arthur Morin shooting Boche 
Planes opposite page 55 

Corp. Charles Connors and Norman Barteaux — Washing Cais- 
sons — On the March to Lorraine — Optical station 

opposite page 70 

Jaulgonne-Fere-en-Tardenois Highway — '77 bursting — No Man's 
Land, Vaux barbed wire entanglements — Two 210 milimeter 
shells bursting opposite page 85 

A 210 milimeter shell bursting — 4th. Section Battery C — No 
Man's Land Chateau-Thierry — No Man's Land Troyon 
Sector — A 308 milimeter shell hole opposite page 96 

Frank Hayes and Corp. Chs. Connors — All ready for a box car 
trip — Telephone crew and dugout — Sgt. Frank Killilea — 

Ben and Harry Poole — Ed. D. Sirois and 210 dud 

opposite page 112 

Lawrence men listening to Gen'l. Edwards* talk. . . .opposite page 128 

Corp. Wm. McGinnis and Pvt. Joseph Lonergan — Kloby in train- 
ing in France — Grave of Pvt. Arthur Dyer — Sgt. John J. 
McCarthy and Corp. Ed. D. Sirois — A cootie hunt — Sgt. 
John G. Sheehan and Corp. James Dick opposite page 144 ^ 

Mongolia mid-ocean, "On the way home" — One of our so-called 

rest camps opposite page 160 

IV 



INTRODUCTION 

The Authors in the following pages have attempted to 
give the friends of Battery C. 102d Field Artillery, a clear and 
concise record of our achievements during the world war. 

A brief outline of the early history is included, showing 
how the organization came into existence at the close of the 
Civil War. 

No history would be complete without mention of the 
"Yankee Division," of which Battery C, was a unit. Under 
the leadership of our gallant Commander, Major General 
Clarence R. Edwards, the Division was cited time and again 
by high officials of the French Army, During the Second Bat- 
tle of the Marne, the civil population of the devastated regions 
surrounding Paris conferred the title *' Saviours of Paris" up- 
on the "Yankee Division." All the information contained in 
this book (except citations and orders) is compiled from dia- 
ries kept by the Authors during the whole course of the War. 

All photographs used in this book are actual photographs 
taken in Action by the Authors except those to wlhom credit is 
given. 

At this time we desire to thank the citizens of Lawrence 
particularly Armorer John P. Ryan and the Elementary 
Teachers Association of Lawrence and the friends of Battery 
C, for the many kind expressions of friendship tended during 
the dark days of 1918, while the Battery was in action. It gave 
us encouragement to continue the fight. 

Lt. Edward D. Sirois 
Corp. William McGinnis 

The Authors are especially grateful to Lieut John J. 
Hogan of the teaching staff of the Lawrence High School for 
assistance rendered in the revision of manuscript. 



DEDICATION 

This history of Battery C, 102d Field Artillery, of the 
Yankee Division, from Lawrence, Massachusetts, is dedicated 
to our comrades of the Battery who were killed in action on 
the Western Front or who died of disease contracted while 
fighting for the Flag. They gave their lives in the true 
"YANKEE DIVISION" spirit, a spirit that never admitted 
defeat. May their noble sacrifice be an inspiration to the 
future members of Battery C and to the citizens of Lawrence. 

The memory of these heroes will always be cherished by 
Battery C: 

Corporal August Mathison — Killed in action at Chateau 
Thierry. 

Private Phillips — ^Balled in action at Chateau Thierry. 

Private Self — ^Killed in action at Chateau Thierry. 

Private Jean Chenard — Killed in action Verdun. 

Private Everett Roy Kenney — Died at Camp Coetquidan. 

Private Charbonneau — Died at Aix-la-Bains. 

Private Arthur Dyer — Killed at La Ferte Haute Marne. 

Private George Scanlon — Died in the United States. 

THEY DIED THAT DEMOCRACY 

MIGHT TRIUMPH OVER AUTOCRACY 

MAY THEIR MEMORY AND DEEDS BE EVER 
PRESERVED 



VI 



IN FLANDERS' FIELDS 

In Flanders' fields the poppies blow 
Between the crosses, row on row, 
That mark our place, while in the sky 
The larks, still bravely singing, fly 
Scarce heard amid the guns below. 

We are the dead: Short days ago 
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, 
Loved and were loved, and now we lie 
In Flanders' fields. 

Take up our quarrel with the foe, 
To you from failing hands we throw 
The Torch — ^be yours to bear it high! 
If ye break faith with us who die 
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow 
In Flanders' Fields. 

By Lieut. Colonel John McCrea, 

Canadian Army. 



vn 



HEADQUARTERS NORTHEASTERN DEPARTMENT 

99 CHAUNCY STREET 

BOSTON, MASS. 

June 16, 1919. 

Lieut. Edward D. Sirois, 
102nd Field Artillery, 
Lawrence, Mass. 

My dear Lieutenant Sirois: 

I remember your statement to me some two weeks ago that you 
purposed to write a history of Battery C, 102nd. Field Artillery, and 
your request that I should write a note relative to the Battery to go 
with that of the colonel of the regiment. 

I shall not attempt to "paint the lily" after your colonel and 
yourself write the details about the gallant work of this fine organiza- 
tion. Suffice it for me to state that the record was fine, typical of 
the regiment, in an artillery brigade of which there was no peer, as 
far as I have knowledge, in France. 

The liaison between the artillery and the infantry especially 
delighted me. The artillery swore by their infantry and the infantry 
swore by their artillery. Confidence of this kind means shock troops. 
I am inclined to believe that the fine protective work of the artillery, 
automatically functioning in protection of the infantry, was largely 
responsible for our comparatively light losses, considering the prob- 
lems we have met. 

I recall your excellent battery commanders, Daniels and Howe, as 
well as the rest of your personnel, with much pleasure. 

Sincerely yours. 



Major General, U. S. Army. 



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53 State St., Boston 



July 14tli, 1919. 



Lieut. Edward D. Sirois, 
Lawrence Telegram, 
Lawrence, Mass. 

Dear Sirois: 

I am very glad to hear that Corp. McGinnis and yourself 
are preparing to publish the history of Battery C. 

I think no one outside of Lawrence has known better Bat- 
tery C for a longer time than myself, and no one could value 
more the achievements of the Battery both in the years prep- 
aratory to the War and in the War itself. 

The record of the Battery is one of which Lawrence may 
well be proud in future years and I am glad that you are 
making the record a permanent historical document. 

Yours very truly. 




Brig. Gen'l. Commanding 

51st. F. A. Brigade. 



IX 



SKELETON HISTORY OF BATTERY C BEFORE THE 
WORLD WAR 

The present organization known as Battery C 102nd. F. A. 
26th. Division of Lawrence, Massachusetts, did not always 
have this designation. 

The organization sprung into existence just after the Civil 
War. Edgar J. Sherman was the principal in the founding of 
this unit and was its first commanding officer. The outfit was 
organized in 1864 and became known as Co. K, 6th. regt. of 
Inf. M. V. M. Capt. Sherman had a distinguished career in 
civil and public life and was one of the best known and most 
popular men in Lawrence at that time. He served as District 
Attorney, Attorney General of Massachusetts and finally as 
judge of the Superior Court of Massachusetts. 

Fourteen years after its beginning, in 1878, the organiza- 
tion was transfered as a whole from the 6th. regt. Inf. M, V. M. 
to the 8th. regt. Inf. M. V. M. becoming Co. M. 

L. N. Duchesney who had a brilliant military record in- 
cluding notable service in the Civil War, now assumed com- 
mand of the organization which became known as, ''THE 
SHERMAN CADETS." 

On May, 10th. 1886, the organization ceased its career as 
an Infantry unit, being transferred and designated as Battery 
C, 1st. regt. F. A. M. V. M. and was equipped with American 
3-inch field pieces (Light Field Artillery) Capt. Duchesney re- 
mained in command of the organization when it was changed 
over, which then became known as "THE SHERMAN LIGHT 
ARTILLERY." 

The battery performed very noteworthy service during 
its existence, both to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and 
the Federal Government. During the Spanish American War 
in 1898, the battery was called into Federal Service and was 
stationed at Gloucester, Mass., where it performed duty as 
Coast Artillery with an old Parrot gun. In 1912 during the 
great textile strike in Lawrence the battery was called into 
service and did remarkable work maintaining law and order in 
this city. 

On June 25th. 1916, the command was mobilized with the 
other batteries of the regiment at Framingham, Mass. and soon 



after was transported to the Mexican Border where it saw 
distinguished service from July 2, 1916 to Oct. 12 1916. The 
battery was stationed at Camp Pershing, Fort Bliss, El Paso, 
Texas while on the Border. 

It made an enviable record during this tour of duty and 
ranked amongst the best militia batteries in the country. While 
on the Border the militia automatically changed to National 
Guard holding the same battery and regimental designations 
as before. 

In April 1917 a second regiment of artillery was formed 
in the Commonwealth and Battery C was transferred as a nu- 
cleus for this new regiment, becoming known as Battery C, 
2nd. Kegt. F, A. M. N. G. 

The battery answered the call of the President for service 
in the World War and mobilized at Camp Curtis Guild, Box- 
ford, Mass., on July 25th. 1917. August 5th. 1917, the entire 
unit was discharged from the National Guard and drafted into 
the Federal service. In the latter part of August 1917, the 
outfit became known as Battery C, 102nd. F. A. 26th. Division. 

During the past ten or fifteen years the battery has spent 
two weeks in camp each year, for the most part within the 
State, although several trips were made to other states. 

Following is a list of former Commanders of Battery C : 
Capt. Edgar J. Sherman assumed command just after the Civil 
War and remained until 1886. 

Capt. L. N. Duchesney 1886-1893 

Capt. W. L. Stedman 1893-1900 

Capt. C. F. Sargent 1900-1907 

Capt. Urban W. Marshall 1907-1910 

Capt. Louis S. Cox 1910-1913 

Capt. Thorndike D. Howe 1913-1915 

Capt. Watkins W. Roberts 1915-1917 

Capt. Robert E. Goodwin 1917 (6 weeks) 

Capt. Roy A. Daniels 1917-1918 

Capt. William F. Howe Jr. now commanding. 



XI 



Worcester, Massachusetts. 
June 3, 1919. 
Lieutenant Edward D. Sirois, 
Lawrence Telegram, 
Lawrence, Massachusetts. 
My dear Lieutenant: 

I heartily endorse the movement to publish a history of Battery 
C, 102 F. A. and commend you and Corporal McGinnis for under- 
taking the writing and publishing of what must be to all those who 
served with your Battery and with the regiment and to the friends 
and relatives of the Lawrence boys in the 102nd F. A. an interesting 
and instructive story of the operations of Lawrence's "Crack Battery." 

Battery C was one of the two batteries upon which the 102nd 
F. A. was built. Witli the men of the other battery more was ex- 
pected from the Lawrence artillerymen than from others in the reg- 
iment. They were, as we viewed it at the time of organization, vet- 
eran soldiers, having been for so long associated with the National 
Guard of Massachusetts and having had the experience of several 
months work on the Mexican border, so it was they who had to set 
the example and establish the morale for the boys who had just en- 
tered upon the work of a soldier. How well the Lawrence boys did 
their work, and how good was their example is attested by the splendid 
record of which we are all proud that has made the 102nd F. A. The 
Battery was fortunate in tiie caliber, character and the ability of its 
commanding officers and his associates but, capable as they were, 
efficient as they proved themselves at all times, their work was made 
the easier because of the willingness, cheerfulness and the co-operating 
spirit at all times shown by the boys who were in Battery C. 

It is pleasant to know that the associations and friendships that 
were welded by experiences in war will be refreshed and continued by 
the publication of a battery history. I hope that I may be honored to 
receive a copy of the book when it has come from the publishers. 




Col. 102nd. F. A. 



XII 




COL. J. F. J. HERBERT 
Commanding 102nd F, A. 




CAPT. WILLIAM F. HOWE, Jr. 
"Our Fighting Skipper." 



CHAPTER I 

"The Call To Arms" 

From the moment War was declared among the European 
Powers, the United States maintained a spirit of strict neutral- 
ity. This was not to last long, however, for the reason that 
the German war machine, violating all the accepted rules of 
International Warfare, soon conducted the War in such a man- 
ner that the neutral nations began to protest, but without 
avail. 

It is not our purpose to give a detailed account of the 
causes leading up to the entrance of the United States into 
the War. However, a few of the outstanding features will 
help the reader to understand Avhy we declared war on Ger- 
many. 

The United States has always been considered the Home 
of true Democracy. The stricken populations of Belgium and 
France turned their eyes to the United States when the Ger- 
man Hordes, violating the sanctity of a Treaty Avith Belgium, 
began their invasion of the little country which was unable 
to protect itself. The story of Belgium's heroic struggle 
against tremendous odds will live in the pages of history for- 
ever. Our sympathies turned to the Belgian Nation and the 
people of Northern France. They appealed to this country to 
stand by the starving men, women and children who were 
non-combatants. The response was magnificent. Ship after 
ship was despatched with food and clothing to the stricken 
people, many of them never reaching port. The Hun pirates 
of the sea were in waiting; a torpedo — a resounding crash — 
and food that would have saved thousands of people from 
starvation sank to the bottom of the ocean. The survivors 
were cast adrift in cold freezing weather hundreds of miles 
from land, only to be picked up by some passing steamer, 
many of them long after they Avere dead. 

The next step was the sinking of the ill-fated 
LUSITANTA, May 7, 1915, in which 1,134 souls were lost. The 
American public by this time began to take a stand. The 
country was divided in opinion. Many favored our entrance 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

into the War, owing to the fact that American lives had been 
sacrificed. Others insisted that we remain neutral. Gradually 
were we getting into the war. Bomb plots were being 
hatched and carried out by German spies and agents all over 
the United States and hundreds of American citizens lost their 
lives in these outrages. 

The climax was reached when President Wilson expelled 
Count Bernstoff, the German Ambassador to the United 
States, on Feb. 3, 1917. The situation took on a graver aspect 
when President Wilson appeared before the Senate on April 
2, 1917 and urged the recognition of a State of AVar with 
Germany. 

On April the 4th, 1917, by a vote of 32 to 6 in the Senate, 
in the House, April the 6th, 1917, 373 to 50, the following 
resolution was passed: 

"Whereas, The Imperial German Government has com- 
mitted repeated acts of War against the Government and 
people of the United States of America; Therefore be it 

"Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of The United States of America in Congress assembled. That 
the State of war between the United States and the Imperial 
German Government which has thus been thrust upon the 
United States is hereby formerly declared ; and that the Pres- 
ident be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to employ 
the entire naval and military forces of the United States and 
the resources of the Government to carry on war against the 
Imperial German Government and to bring the conflict to a 
successful termination, all the resources of the country are 
hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States." — 
(Joint resolution of Congress, approved by the President Ap- 
ril 6, 1917.) 

The country was now at war. The Government made 
preparations to place the Army and Navy on a war footing. 
The Industrial and Commercial resources of the Nation were 
placed at the disposal of the Government. Labor and Capital 
pledged their forces to the country. War was the only topic 
discussed at work, on the street, and in the home. Prepara- 
tions were under way to conduct the war according to Ameri- 
can methods. 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

CHAPTER II 

"Mobilization" 

The days that followed the resolution of Congress — that 
a state of war existed with Germany — were days of action, 
excitement and vigor. Army, Navy and Marine Corps officials 
sent out calls for volunteers. Huge, glaring, many colored, 
picturesque posters Avere placed in prominent spaces all over 
the country. Recruiting stations were established in Parks, 
on Commons, in Postoffices and in every conceivable place. 
Thousands of men hastened to enlist. Congress, under Presi- 
dent Wilson's suggestion, passed the selective draft act May 
18, 1917, under which 10,000,000 men registered on June 5, 191T. 

It was at this time that the military authorities of Massa- 
chusetts decided to form a second regiment of Field Artillery 
in the Commonwealth. Accordingly, preparations were made 
to this end and Lt. Col, Thorndike D. Howe of Lawrence was 
appointed to undertake this enormous task. Col. Howe was 
well qualified to undertake this duty, having been the princi- 
pal in organizing the second battalion of the First Mass. F. A. 
N. G. two years before in Salem. The first step in the organi- 
zation of the neAv regiment of Field Artillery was the trans- 
ferring of Battery B of Worcester and Battery C of Lawrence, 
from the first regiment of F. A. Mass. N. G. as a nucleus for 
the second regiment. Then, two new Batteries were recruited 
in Boston, to fill the vacancies in the first regiment and four 
new Batteries were organized in Haverhill, New Bedford, 
Worcester and Lowell and named Batteries A, D, E, and F 
respectively to complete the second regiment. The head- 
quarters and supply Companies of the new regiment were re- 
cruited in Lawrence and Lawrence was used as the headquar- 
ters of the regiment. The new regiment became known as the 
2nd. Mass. F. A. N. G. was formerly recognized by the War 
Department. 

Battery C at this time was fully equipped with American 
3-inch field guns, harness, pistols and other equipment, in- 
eluding 32 horses. 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 



Up to this time Capt. Watkins W. Roberts was in com- 
mand of the Battery, but resigned his command about April 
and was furloughed to the Reserve Corps as a major. The 
men of the Battery then set about to elect a new Captain and 
Lt, Roy A. Daniels, then First Lieutenant in the Battery, was 
the unanimous choice of the men in the organization and ac- 
cordingly, Lt. Daniels was elected about the middle of May 
at the Methuen armory. Lt. Daniels then went to Boston to 
take the examinations for Captain and successfully passed all 
the tests, with the one exception that he was nine pounds un- 
der the regulation weight. Regardless of the fact that Lt. 
Daniels was also under weight when he took the examination 
for First Lieutenant, and at that time was passed, the board 
refused to pass him on this occasion. Lt. Daniels then called 
a meeting of the Battery members and explained the circum- 
stances to them. He said that it was a clear case of his not 
being wanted in this position by the officers higher up, but the 
Battery boys were firm in their choice and would not change. 
Lt. Col. Thorndike D. Howe then proposed ex-Mayor John P. 
Kane as a candidate for the Captaincy of the Battery, but al- 
though the battery knew that Mr. Kane was an ex-officer of 
Co. F and that he was a very efficient and capable officer, and 
meaning no discourtesy to Mr. Kane, they remained solid for 
Lt. Daniels. Col. Howe then proposed Capt. Robert E. Good- 
win of Boston, Regimental Adjutant of the First Mass. F. A. 
for the leadership of the Battery and Col. John H. Sherburne, 
(General now). Colonel of the First Field Artillery regiment 
also favored Capt. Goodwin to command the Lawrence Bat- 
tery. Both Col. Howe and Col. Sherburne spoke to the men 
of the Battery in the Lawrence Armory and urged them to 
elect Capt. Goodwin to command the Battery, but although 
Capt. Goodwin was a very efficient, capable and painstaking 
officer, the Battery, fearing that something "was being put 
over on them" and that officers were trying to be thrust upon 
them for some reason or other and that the officers whom they 
wanted were being held back, refused to consent to Capt. 
Goodwin assuming the command of the Battery. Then Col. 
Sherburne spoke to the men and told them that if they would 
accept Capt. Goodwin as Battery Commander for six weeks 
he would promise that Capt. Goodwin would be relieved of 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



his command of the battery within that time. The men of 
the battery did not like to accede to this proposition and after 
much debating decided to let Lt. Daniels make the decision, 
they promising to stand by whatever he deemed best. Lt. 
Daniels did not like to give in to this arrangement either, but 
it seemed the only plausible way out of the difficulty, because 
were the Battery to be mustered into the Federal Service with- 
out a Captain, their privilege of electing their own officers 
would cease. Once in the Federal Service, the officers higher 
up and the Government could appoint whomsoever they pleas- 
ed, so Lt. Daniels decided in favor of Capt. Goodwin and re- 
lied on Col. Sherburne keeping his word. The battery took 
Lt. Daniels' advice, as they had pledged themselves to do, and 
Capt. Robert E. Goodwin was elected Captain of Battery C, 
in the Methuen Armory and assumed command immediate- 
ly. Col. Sherburne kept his word and within five weeks Capt. 
Goodwin was advanced to the rank of Major and given com- 
mand of the First Battalion of the 2nd. Mass. F. A. 'J^his would 
make it appear as though the officers in command wanted to 
make Capt. Goodwin a Major and that they simply used Bat- 
tery as a stepping stone to attain this object. Lt. Daniels 
was appointed Captain and given command of the battery when 
Capt. Goodwin attained the rank of Major. 

Although the enlisted personnel of the Battery did not 
approve of Capt. Goodwin coming to the organization the fact 
must be acknowledged, however, that he made a "ripping 
good skipper." The battery was facing a crisis at the time 
that Capt. Goodwin assumed command. They were sick of 
being told that if they did not do this or they did not do that, 
just as someone wanted them to, they would suffer in some 
way or another. 

It does not take a great deal of this sort of thing to bring 
the morale of an organization down and such w^as the state 
of affairs when Capt. Goodwin assumed command of the Bat- 
tery. Although only a small man in stature he was full of 
life and energy, and when he turned the battery over to 
Capt. Daniels it was once again back to its **01d time spirit." 

At the time that Lt. Daniels was first elected captain, 
there were also vacancies for one First Lieutenant and two 
Second Lieutenants. William F. Howe, Jr., Second Lieutenant 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 



in Battery A of Haverhill, was elected to fill the vacancy of 
First Lieutenant in Battery C, and Corp. Robert J. Hancock 
and Sergeant Bernard J. Lynch were elected Second Lieu- 
tenants. These young men went to Boston. Lt. Howe passed 
the examinations and was assigned to Battery C, Corp. Han- 
cock and Sgt. Lynch were less fortunate, receiving word some- 
time later that they had failed. Both thought they could have 
easily passed the required examinations on their ability and 
merits, but that did not count for a great deal. Sgt. Lynch 
did not seek another examination as was his privilege, but im- 
mediately re-enlisted in the Battery. Corp. Hancock, how- 
ever, did go to Boston, took the examinations again and passed. 
He v/as then assigned to Battery C. Sgt. Joseph McCarthy 
was now elected to fill the vacancy existing and successfully 
passed all the requirements. Both Lt. Hancock's and Lt. Mc- 
Carthy's careers were short-lived however. On the 27th. of 
July, 1917, as the battery was boarding the electric cars to 
leave the Methuen Armory Lt. Hancock was handed his dis- 
charge and Lt. McCarthy received his about two weeks later 
at Boxford, Mass. 

When Capt. Goodwin assumed command of the battery 
there were about 130 men in the organization. Due to the 
fact that the enlistment period of quite a number of the men 
expired at this time and also due to orders received from the 
War Dept., that all married men, and men with dependents 
must be immediately discharged, the ranks of the battery be- 
came greatly thinned. 

Capt. Goodwin appointed 1st Lt. William B. Higgins as 
recruiting officer for the Battery. Lt. Higgins opened re- 
cruiting stations at both the Lawrence and Methuen Armories 
and commenced a vigorous campaign for recruits, not in Law- 
rence alone, but also in the suburbs. This campaign was very 
successful and the battery secured many fine men such as 
Charles L. Lannigan, who became a Second Lieutenant at 
C'nmp Coetquidan, France and later again promoted to First 
Lieutenant while at the front ; also Joseph M. Mulhare, Police 
Inspector, who was one of the battery's "Old Timers," and 
who later became first Sergeant of the Battery in France. 
Another man was John M. Laing, circulation manager of the 
Lawrence Telegram, who worked his way to Radio Sergeant 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



in the 102nd F. A. Headquarters Company, Clarence L. Young 
of the Essex Company who came home as Regimental Sergeant 
Major of the 102nd F. A. was another man who enlisted in 
the battery as a private. These young men and many more 
like them were secured through the untiring efforts of Lt. Hig- 
gins. His work had been done so satisfactorily that when the 
battery was ready to leave Lawrence it required but few men 
to complete its full War strength quota. 

Orders were issued to the Battery to report at the Me- 
thuen Armory at 4.00 o'clock, July 24, 1917, where a check 
roll-call was held, and all the members of the Battery found 
present. A special courier was despatched to the State House, 
Boston. He waited there all night and when the Adjutant 
General's Office opened on July 25th, Battery C was one of 
the first units of the Massachusetts National Guard reported 
present and awaiting orders. In the meantime, the Battery 
was busy pitching tents on the spacious drill field behind the 
Armory and getting everything in readiness for the order to 
move. The following day at 1.30 p. m. guns, caissons and 
horses moved over the road to Boxford, Mass. The rest of the 
battery were transported in touring cars supplied by the bus- 
iness men of Lawrence. Here the two Massachusetts Field 
Artillery Regiments and a third regiment composed of State 
Troops from the other New England States combined were 
mobilized, later becoming the 51st Artillery Brigade of the 
26th Division. 



OFFICERS OF BATTERY C AT TIME OF DEPARTURE FOR 

FRANCE 

CAPTAIN 

Roy A. Daniels 

FIRST LIEUTENANTS 

William B. Higgins 

William F. Howe, Jr. 

SECOND LIEUTENANTS 

Andrew W. Thompson 

Prentiss French 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WOULD WAR' 



ROSTER OF BATTERY C AT THE TIME OF THEIR DEPAR- 
TURE FROM LAWRENCE 

First Sergeant 
William F. Halloran, Lawrence 

Stable Sergeant 
Daniel J. Lorden, 751 Essex St., Lawrence 

Mess Sergeant 
Joseph M. Rinehart, 269 South Broadway, Lawrence 

Supply Sergeant 
Frank Conway, 5 Chestnut St., Winchendon 

SERGEANTS 
John J. McCarthy, 12 Cypress St., Lawrence 
Clarence S. Davis, 563 Haverhill St., Lawrence 
Mark W. Wyman, 43 Falmouth St., Lawrence 
Leo Lacasse, 297 High St., Lawrence 
Hartley L. Calvert, 30 Crescent St., Lawrence 
William F. Weinhold, 17 Dewey St., Lawrence 
Eric E Borton, 34 Loring St., Lawrence 
Bernard J. Lynch, 135 Bowdoin St., Lawrence 
Joseph A. Pageau, 52 Railroad St., Lawrence 
John G. Sheehan, 285 High St., Lawrence 

CORPORALS 
Joseph M Cote, 241 Salem St., Lawrence 
Frank J. Killilea, 89 Stearns Ave., Lawrence 
Daniel Danahy, 223 Hampshire St., Lawrence 
James Dick, 3 Cuba Ct., Andover 
Wilfred Cote, 241 Salem St., Lawrence 
Charles Hanley, 146 Willow St., Lawrence 
William I. Hart, 10 Phillips St., Lawrence 
Edward D. Sirois, 44 Oak St., Lawrence 
Ralph Rossi, 119 Elm St., Lawrence 
Edgar Blancliette, 41 Tyler St., Lawrence 
Thomas Lacey, 82 Holly St., Lawrence 
Bernard Coia, 75 Oak St., Lawrence 
William McGinnis, 247 Broadway, Lawrence 
George Rainville, 82 Farley, Lawrence 
Charles E. Connors, 68 Texas Ave., Lawrence 
Herman T. Gage, 232 Bradford St., No. Andover 

8 



AVITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

Charles L. Lannigan, 239 Andover St., Lawrence 
Harry W. Law, 132 Oakland Ave., Methuen 
Daniel Neal, 4 Ck)nduit St., Lawrence 
Edward F. O'Leary, 175 Haverhill St., Lawrence 
David 0. Yule, 173 Broadway, Lawrence 

CHIEF MECHANICIAN 
Ralph E. Strout, R. F. D. 5, Belfast, Me. 

MECHANICIANS 
George R. Belisle, 282 West St., Lawrence 
William G. Martin, 107 Nesmith St., Lawrence 

SADDLER 
Camille Dion, 161 West St., Lawrence 

HORSESHOER 
Alexander Dube, 36 Morton St., Lawrence 

COOKS 
Arthur M. Ellis, 10 Warren St., Lawrence 
George A. Grey, 282 Broadway, Lawrence 
Frank J. Lorden, 751 Essex St., Lawrence 

PRIVATES (First Class) 
Fred A. Gleason, 102 Walnut St., Lawrence 
Peter Mich, 17 Currier St., Lawrence 

PRIVATES 
Samuel Adams, 62 Phillip St., Lawrence 
Leslie Anderson, 125 Osgood St., Lawrence 
Edward Bachand, 40 Manchester St., Lawrence 
Jol-in Barmby, 200 Tyler St., Methuen 
John W. Barrow, 4 Osborn St., Fall River 
Timothy J. Barry, 102 Sarotoga St,, Lawrence 
Frank Beanland, 68 Camden St., Lawrence 
Peter Beaudoin, 15 Tremont St., Lawrence 
Rosario J. Beaulieu, 44 Tremont St., Lawrence 
Albert Belanger, 36 Dracut St., Lawrence 
Michael A. Belawsky, 25 Harvard St., Lawrence 
Andrew Beletsky, 87 Valley St., Lawrence 
Patrick Berube, 603 Andover St., Lawrence 
William H. Bevington, 36 Manchester St., Lawrence 
Earl H. Bitler, 176 Abbott St., Lawrence 
Andrew J. Boisonneau, 159 Weare St., Lawrence 
Bernard T. Bowden 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

James W. Bradley, 9 Byron Ave., Lawrence 

Edward Broohu, 10 Hobson St., Methuen 

Timothy Carroll, 310 Salem St., Lawrence 

Frank Carroll, 92 Berkeley St., Lawrence 

Leo L. Carney, 46 Morton St., Lawrence 

William E. Carney, 86 Arlington St., Lawrence 

Ernest E. Carter, 16 Madison St., Methuen 

Joseph Charbonneau, 1 Acton St., Lawrence 

Jean B. Ohenard, 52 Railroad St., Lawrence 

Joseph Coakley, 167 Salem St., Lawrence 

Arthur J. Collins, 415 Andover St., Lawrence 

Frank Collins, 16 Turner St., Lawrence 

Thomas Corcoran, 507 Essex St., Lawrence 

Edward J. Coughlin, 42 Crosby St., Lawrence 

Irvin Cravin, 168 Tenney, Methuen 

Percival S. Crawford, 332 Pelham St., Methuen 

Warren G. Curtin, 32 Avon St., Lawrence 

Louis E. Daigneault, 40 Water St., Lawrence 

Thomas Davies, 4 Buxton St., Methuen 

Walter W. Demers, 258 Essex St., Lawrence 

Pierre Desbiens, 447 Haverhill St., Lawrence 

James J. Devine, 149 Foster St., Lawrence 

William D. Donovan, 98 Auburn St., Lawrence 

Francis D. Dowd, 99 Abbott St., Lawrence 

Arthur Dube, 337 So. Broadway, Lawrence 

James J. Dugan, R. F. D., Highland Road, No. Andover 

Rene E. Faucher, 17 Daisy St., Lawrence 

George H. Fegerus, 5 Lund St., Worcester 

John L. Ferguson, 153 Prospect St., Lawrence 

Harold A. Fitzgerald, 460 Water St., Lawrence 

John A. Fortin, 12 Perkins Ct., Lawrence 

Charles Frazier, 19 Rowell St., Lawrence 

Wilfred Gagnon, 33 Crosby St., Lawrence 

Harold A, Gardner, 73 Essex St., Lawrence 

Harry Green, Y. M. C. A., Lawrence 

Joseph A. Greene, 386 Park St., Lawrence 

Augustine Hadden, 71 Crescent St., Lawrence 

George M. Hajjar, 262 Hampshire St., Lawrence 

Raymond W. Hamel, 114 Butler St., Lawrence 

Heni-y Hartman, 98 East Haverhill St., Lawrence 

10 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

Francis P. Hayes, 83 Easton St., Lawrence 
William J. Hayes, 83 Easton St., Lawrence 
William Heffernan, 76 Bunker Hill St., Lawrence 
Frank P. Hennessey, 30 Manchester St., Lawrence 
Otto A. Hoffman, 47 Storrow St., Lawrence 
Benjamin Hollins, 24 V/illow St., Lawrence 
Melvin H. Hubbard, 107 Ashland Ave., Methuen 
Josiah H. Hull, 317 Lawrence St., Lawrence 
Fred D. Hurrell, 70 Oakland Ave., Lawrence 
Albert D. Hutton, 37 Eutaw St., Lawrence 
James Ingle, 9 Chelmsford St., Lawrence 
James Innis, 67 Warren St., Lav/rence 
Alfred Jean, 108 Concord St., Lawrence 
William E. Jordan, 101 So. Broadway, Lawrence 
Joseph Joyce, 374^/^ Common St., Lav/rence 
Henry B. Judge, 110 Ames St., Lawrence 
James J. Kane, 630 Broadway, Lawrence 
John Kavanah, 194 Walnut St., Lawrence 
Roy Kenney, 70 Dorchester St., Lawrence 
John M. Laing, 57 Center St., Methuen 
George H. Langford, 2 Concord St., Lawrence 
Aime Latulippe, 30 Ohio Ave., Lawrence 
Robert E. Laycock, 32 Melrose St., Lawrence 
Cyril Lemay, 41 Orchard St., Lawrence 
Harry F. Leslie, 69 Fern St., Lawrence 
Matthew J. Linehan, 220 Salem St., Lawrence 
Joseph D. Lonergan, 365 Oak St., Lawrence 
John F. Manion, 3 Bunker Hill St., Lawrence 
Francis Manning, 141 Arlington St., Lawrence 
Louis 0. Mai-tin, 4 Westland Ave., Lawrence 
Laurence J. Matthews 

August Mathison, 16 Clayton Ave., Methuen 
William H. McClellan, 475 Essex St., Lawrence 
Harold McDonald, 15 Crawford St., Lowell 
William E. McDonough, 64 Oregon Ave., Lawrence 
Raymond E. McGeoch, 405 Water St., Lawrence 
John McNamee, 46 Margin St., Lawrence 
William Menzie, 440 Haverhill St., Lawrence 
Theophile Mercier, 27 River View St., Beverly 
Arthur M. Miller, Au. Sable Forks, New York 



11 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 

Arthur Morin, 48 Railroad St., Lawrence 
Daniel F. Moynihan, 14 Trenton St., Lawrence 
Michael F. Murphy, 121 Haverhill St., Lawrence 
Albert Noble, 42 Texas Ave., Lawrence 
John F. O'Brien, 22 Bromfield St., Lawrence 
James O'Brien, 395 Park St., Lawrence 
John J. O'Neil, 98^/^ Tremont St., Lawrence 
Dominick Palesky, 1 Cantillon St., Lawrence 
Frank R. Payson, 15 Washington St., Lawrence 
Thomas H. Peel, 149 Tenney, Methuen 
Benjamin Poole, 58 Tenney St., Lawrence 
Charles Poole, 86 Park St., Lawrence 
Harry Poole, 58 Tenney St., Lawrence 
Alcide J. Poudrier, 286 Broadway, Lawrence 
John Provencher, 2 Blanohard St., Lawrence 
Michael J. Rahilly, 311 Ham.pshire St., Lawrence 
Leon N. Randall, 130 Cross St., Lawi-ence 
John J. Regan, 55 So. Broadway, Lawrence 
William H. Ruediger, 31 Lippold St., Lawrence 
Phillip J. Riley, 235 Salem St., Lawrence 
Frank Rourke, 2 Hall Place, Lowell 
Patrick Ryan, 12 Atkinson St., Lawrence 
George E. Scanlon, 396 So. Broadway, Lawrence 
Bruno Sedar, 109 Newbury St., Lawrence 
Albert Seguin, 72 Margin St., Lawrence 
Herbert Slattery, 12 Elizabeth St., Lawrence 
Edward C. Sullivan, 31 Bromfield St., Lawrence 
Charles F. Sweeny, 38 Cedar St., Lawrence 
Eugene Topping, 30 Nesmith St., Lawrence 
Henry Topping, 30 Nesmith St., Lawrence 
Ricliard E. Tordoff, Y. M. C. A., Lawrence 
Patrick H. Webb, 127 Bennington St., Lawrence 
Horace White, 48 Shattuck St., Lawrence 
William L. Wilkinson, 35 Mass. Ave., No. Andover 
Clarence L. Young, 375 Lowell St., Methuen 
Henry Thibault, 32 Crosby St., Lawreiic2 
Omer St. Pierre, 305 Broadway, Lawrence 
Joseph Mulhare, 359 Haverhill, Lawrence 



12 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

Life at Boxford was one round of pleasure. Nearby cities 
and towns could be easily reached and the camp was crowded 
with visitors at all times. We were under the impression that 
our next move would be to Charlotte, N. C. The troops Avere 
rapidly adapting themselves to military discipline. Owing to 
the efficiency of the New England State Troops, the War De- 
partment was prevailed upon to despatch the troops to France. 
AVinter clothing and equipment were issued and Aug. 5, 1917, 
the National Guard units were drafted into the United States 
Army by a special act of Congress. . 

Shortly after this the 26th Division, which General Ed- 
wards and his staff had been working on for such a length 
of time became a reality. All the New England National 
Guard had been grouped together into the different regiments 
and now all that was necessary was to change their names. 
Accordingly, the three regiments of Artillery at Camp Curtis 
Guild became the 101, 102 and 103 Field Artillery regiments 
of the United States Army, forming the 51st Field Artillery 
Brigade. The Infantry and other branches of the service were 
named and grouped into Brigades in a similar manner. Bat- 
tery C was now a unit of the 102nd Field Artillery. 

It is now worthy of mention that all the material, horses 
and ordnance equipment had been turned in. We were now a 
"'Christian Science" Artillery Brigade. Of everything that 
took place at Boxford, there is one thing that stands out much 
more prominently than anything else and that was the inocu- 
lation against typhoid. All the new men had to take five in- 
oculations, while the older "vets" who had been in the organ- 
ization for some time and who had received an inoculation 
while on the Mexican Border, only had to take three at this 
time. Without this precaution the troops in France never 
would have been able to stand the grind. 

Just before the battery was called into service William 
Hollaran, who was farrier in the battery, with the rank of 
corporal was appointed 1st. sergeant, when 1st. sergeant Harry 
Smith was discharged on account of having dependents. Bill 
Hollaran who was known to the boys as "Father," was top 
sergeant when the battery went to Boxford. He was one of 
the best 1st. sergeants that the battery ever had and was very 
popular and well liked by the entire personnel of the organiza- 

13 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 



tion. Bill knew men, he knew how to handle men and how to 
get the best discipline without tyrannizing the men under him. 
First sergeant is one of the toughest jobs in the army, as a 
]st. sergeant is the middleman between the officers and the 
enlisted men. A first sergeant very seldom makes any friends, 
but on the contrary makes a lot of enemies. Bill Hollaran was 
the exception to this rule. There was hardly a man in the 
battery who had anything but the deepest respect and admira- 
tion for him. However, Bill, "Our Father," was in the hands 
of Fate. One day the boys were astonished to hear that he had 
been reduced to a duty sergeant and transferred to Battery A. 
It was one of the biggest mistakes that Battery C ever made 
to lose Bill Hollaran. As stable sergeant of Battery A of 
Haverhill he performed excellent service and later on when the 
regiment got to the front he had the best set of horses in the 
Brigade. The battery boys never officially learned why Bill 
Hollaran was reduced and transferred and Bill was too much 
of a man to explain himself. He bore his exile like a soldier 
and when asked about it he would say, "It can't be helped 
now, let's forget it." Nevertheless Ave had a right to think, 
that is if we didn't think out loud, and to this day the battery 
boys still believe that Bill Hollaran was the victim of Military 
Politics. His parting words to the battery, "I would rather 
be a prvate in this battery, than top sergeant in any other 
outfit," serves to shoAv in Avhat regard he held Battery C. He 
tried to secure a reduction to a private and be transferred 
back to Battery C but was unsuccessful. 



PAY DAY 

Oh, it's early in the morning. 

The mules begin to squeal, 
You hear the cooks a banging pans 

To get the morning meal ; 
The Bugler sort o' toodlin' 

Outside the Colonel's tent, 
And you kind o' feel downhearted, 

'Cause your last two bits is spent. 



14 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



With a leggin' string you're fussin' 

When the band begins to play, 
And you listen and stop cussin' — 

What is that the Bugles say? 
Oh, it's PAY-DAY, PAY-DAY, PAY-DAY, 

And the drums begin to roll, 
And they sure do carry music 

To the busted Johnnie's soul. 

Some think about the girls they'll get, 

And some, about the beer; 
Some say they'll send their money home, 

And all begin to cheer. 
The games Avill soon be goin' 

Snap your fingers at the dice ; 
With canteen spigots flowin', 

'Til the barkeeps out of ice. 

For it's PAY-DAY, PAY-DAY, PAY-DAY; 

Can't you hear the bugles call? 
The privates and the Non-coms, 

The officers and all 
Have been waitin', and waitin', waitin', 

'Til they're broke or badly bent 
For the coins staked up on blankets 

And table in a tent. 

Fifteen dollars in the mornin' 

By the evein' in the hole; 
And ''Private Jones is absent. Sir," 

When the sergeant calls the roll; 
The officers are lookin' up 

The ''Articles of War." 
There's sixteen in the guard-house, 

And the Provost has some more. 



Author Unknown. 



15 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

CHAPTER m 

Off To France 

When the organization of the division was completed, 
there was no time lost in getting ready for France. It was 
intended that the Division should go to Charlotte, N. C, for a 
period of training, previous to embarking for France. Ac- 
cording to all the magazines and newspapers of the day, it 
was the intention of the War Department to first send to 
France the 42nd "Rainbow" Division, which was made up 
from the National Guard of about 27 states, but the "Yankee" 
Division beat them to it. Giving to the zeal and spirit with 
which the New England troops entered into the game, a high 
state of efficiency was soon attained. The 26tli was ready to 
go to France before the Rainbow Division was completely or- 
ganized and realized what was going on. 

Everything was being done with the greatest of secrecy. 
None of the men and few of the officers knew exactly what 
was going on. But "Old Dame Rumor," started things going 
and sure stirred up trouble for a time. The signs were too 
pronounced to be mistaken. We began to pack all surplus 
equipment and mark the boxes, trunks and baggage with the 
overseas insignia. Then, all knew what was in the air. It was 
France for us without a doubt. All were in the best of spirits 
for, at last, we were going to avenge the insult heaped upon 
our Flag and Country by the German Government. 

At the retreat formation of the battery, 5.30 o'clock, the 
night of Wednesday, Sept. 19, 1917, Capt. Daniels issued or- 
ders that every man would be allowed on pass all night, until 
reveille, 6.30 A. M., the next morning. The captain informed 
the battery that it would in all probability be the last oppor- 
tunity to go home, but also impressing upon them the import- 
ance of being back by 6.30 A. M. the following morning, the 
penalty for non-appearance being a court-martial. Battery 
A of Haverhill and Battery F of Lowell also had the right to 
take advantage of this privilege but the Commanders of these 
two Batteries did not allow the men to go, fearing that they 

16 




.-»aifeitt».i rfftw t JMl& i li l w iiiiil l Si WrlB^ ii i ■» 




Top : — Remains of a '75 and caisson, blown off by a defective 
shell, Camp Coetquidan, France; Center left: — 1st. Section Bat- 
tery C, Sgt. Bernard J. Lynch in charge, at firing practice, Camp 
Coetquidan, France; Center right: — Same gun as above, men pick- 
ing remains of 5 comrades who were killed and blown to pieces, 
when piece exploded; Bottom: — 4th. Section, Battery C, Sgt. Charles 
Hanley in charge, at firing practice. Camp Coetquidan, France, 
left to right — Joseph Greene, Henry Hartman, John Provencher, 
and Louis Daigneault (Note the gun in this picture in extreme 
recoil.) Pictures taken by the authors. 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

would not be back in time. At the 6.30 roll-call Thursday, 
September 20, every man in Battery C answered present to 
his name. The organization received a flattering compliment 
from Col. Morris E. Locke, who was now the Regimental Com- 
mander of the 102nd F. A. for their promptness and perfect 
soldierly conduct. 

Friday, September 21, 1917, was our last day at Camp Cur- 
tis Guild, Boxford, Mass. The morning wsls spent in making 
rolls, packing equipment and tearing down all construction 
work that we had erected. At 1.30 P. M. "General," was 
blown and every tent in the regiment came dow^n simultane- 
ously. In a race that followed to see who would have all 
equipment packed first, Battery C v^'on out. 

At 10.15 that night we boarded the train at the Boxford 
depot on the first leg of our journey to France, after 58 days 
of Army life spent at this camp. Little did we realize on this 
calm, peaceful September evening Avith everyone in the best 
of spirits, that we had seen our relatives, friends and sweet- 
hearts, for the last time for many a long day. The thought 
that some of us would never see them again never even entered 
our minds. Little did v>^e know of battlefields, poisonous gas, 
dugouts, trenches, of cooties and almost a year at the front 
without a rest and here the fact must be acknowledged little 
did we care, for the soldier lives for today — let tomorrow bring 
what it will. 

Previous to the departure of the train, orders were issued 
that all curtains must be pulled down, no one was to talk or 
hold conversation with people outside. If asked who we were, 
where we came from, or where we were bound, we were to say 
that we did not knoAv. We were to be absolutely dumb. We 
were not given a glorious send-off, with brass bands playing, 
people cheering and flags waving — we just "sneaked off in the 
middle of the night, ' ' and to a certain extent that was just the 
way we preferred to leave. The American people were sending 
us to represent them in the greatest war of all time. We had 
a grim and gigantic task before us. We were on our way to 
avenge the wrongs done by the most ruthless, heartless and 
most despised nation in the world, to the most patient, peace- 
loving people who formed the greatest nation on the globe — 
a people who had patiently listened to the slanderous lies of a 

17 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

barbarian nation for three long years, but who were now 
aroused and ready to make every sacrifice to bring the Prus- 
sian rule to an end. We were representatives of the most just 
and glorious cause that ever man fought for — the Vanguard 
of the American Army, 2,500,000 strong. And well did we 
know that the time for brass bands and cheers would come 
when we accomplished the task before us. 



THE NATIONAL GUARD 

Didn't know much, but knew something, 

Learned while the other men played, 
Didn't delay for commissions; 

Went while the other men stayed. 
Took no degrees up at Plattsburg, 

Needed too soon for the game, 
Ready at hand to be asked for, 

Orders said "Come" — and they came. 

Didn't get bars on their shoulders, 

Or three months to see if they could; 
Didn't get classed with the reg'lars. 

Or told they were equally as good. 
Just got a job and got busy. 

Awkward they were but intent. 
Filing no claim for exemption. 

Orders said "Go" — and they went. 

Didn't get farewell processions. 

Didn't get newspaper praise. 
Didn't escape the injunction. 

To mend, in extent, their ways. 
Work-bench and counter and roll-top, 

Dug in and minding their chance, 
Orders said "First line of trenches;" 

They're holding them — somewhere in France. 

Author Unknown 
18 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

T'was a hard bloAv, however, Avhen our train passed 
through South Lawrence — our own home town and actually- 
stopped. The platform was lined with fully a thousand peo- 
ple, mothers, fathers, wives, sisters, brothers and sweethearts 
of the boys, but we had already learned the first essential of 
a good soldier — obedience to orders — and the curtains re- 
mained down. Bitter as the pill was the swallow, there was 
not a fellow in that train whose eyes were not wet when he 
left the station for — God only knew where. 

At 12.26 noon on September 22, 1917, we arrived in New 
York city and immediately detrained. The march to the 
wharf was very short. The ferry-boat Sumner carried us to 
Hoboken where we boarded the U. S. S. Transport Finland at 
5.00 P. M. The entire regiment was put on this ship. Two 
Major Generals and two Brigadier Generals also traveled with 
us. 

Early on the morning of September 23rd. we pulled out into 
the harbor, w^here we anchored all day. As the sun was set- 
ting this wonderful Sunday afternoon, we caught our last 
glimpse of the statue of Liberty and the buildings of New 
York's waterfront, in fact, our last glimpse of the good old 
U. S. A. for nineteen, long, weary months, for exactly at 10.17 
P. M. Sept. 23, 1917, the propellers of the Finland started to re- 
volve and at last we were on our way to France. What a beauti- 
ful picture the lights of New York presented, as they gradually 
grew dimmer, and dimmer, and finally faded from our vision ! 
Never shall we forget it. 

As we glanced around the waterfront our thoughts wan- 
dered back to Lawrence and the events of the past forty-eight 
hours, we gazed out towards the ocean. We knew the trip was 
fraught with danger but we were ready and anxious to get 
over where' things were being done. Standing on the deck of 
the transport we were soon made to realize that the atmos- 
phere of war was in evidence everywhere, all the docks were 
flooded with lights, armed sentries were on hand everywhere, 
their bayonets glistening in the moonlight, police officers were 
helping the military authorities, we were wishing the trip 
was under way. 

19 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR' 



We were soon made aware of the fact that the voyage v/as 
not to be one of blissful idleness as many had anticipated, be- 
cause a submarine Avatch was organized that night. This 
guard was posted at regular intervals at vantage points all 
over the ship. The duty of this guard was to maintain a con- 
stant lookout for not only periscopes and submarines, but to 
report all vessels coming into sight. 

In our convoy there were three transports, the Antilles, 
Henderson and the one on which we sailed, the Finland. Our 
escort, consisted of the Armed Cruiser San Diego and two de- 
stroyers Nos. 22 and 24. On their return trip both the Fin- 
land and the Antilles were torpedoed, but both were success- 
ful in reaching Le Havre safely. The San Diego was less 
fortunate than these two. This cruiser ran on the rocks off 
the coast of New York and became a total wreck. 

The "Prison Ship, Finland," was the name that we gave 
to our ship and surely it Avas most appropriately named. "No 
smoking" below decks at any time for fear of fire and "no 
smoking" on deck after dusk for fear that the glow would at- 
tract any U-boats Avhich might be lurking near. After dark 
there was not a single light showing anywhere on that ship. 
The Finland was a fairly large boat, its beam 85 feet, length 
690 feet and it has done fine work in the transport service. 
She carried at this time four 4-inch guns, tAvo fore and two 
aft and she also carried a machine gun. The gun-crew who 
manned the guns certainly attended to business. We used to 
like to sit down and Vv^atch them drill. When a strange vessel 
was sighted, the crew would train the guns on it and keep 
them there until it was out of sight. Every vessel was chal- 
lenged. The bunks and quarters of the men were all below 
deck. The bunks consisted of a wooden frame, across which 
canvas was stretched. These bunks were three tiers high and 
there were bunks on five decks. The ventilation was terrible. 
It was almost impossible to get a breath of air on the second 
deck let alone the fifth, and because of this and the poor qual- 
ity of the food many of the men, who otherwise would have 
escaped, were made subject to seasickness. Most of the men 
were seasick the second day out and remained so during the 
entire voyage. Giving to the general feeling and disposition 
of the men most of us did not care a great deal whether we 

20 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



were torpedoed or not. It was a crime to issue to anybody the 
food that was served on this boat and the man responsible 
should have been held accountable. The food given us was 
horrible. It lacked quality and quantity. It was not that 
there was not sufficient on board because we were able to 
steal our VA^ay down into the galley after dark and there buy 
pastry made from flour intended to be used for the troops, 
from an unscrupulous English steward. Pies made from this 
flour averaged one dollar and a half each. The boys "settled 
his hash," one night, however, and he spent the remainder of 
the trip in the ship's hospital. 

One of the most popular officers in our regiment made 
himself the most despised man on the ship because he carried 
his duties as Mess Officer too far. There was also a canteen on 
board but the prices were so exorbitant that it was far be« 
yond our means to purchase anything. We were compelled to 
pay fifteen cents for an ordinary five-cent bar of chocolate and 
twenty cents for a ham sandwich in which it Avas some job to 
find the ham. Oranges sold for twenty-five and fifty cents 
each. A great part of the goods that were being sold by the 
crew was supposed to be issued to us. The boat was not op- 
erated by naval officers and crew, but by a private concern. 

The boat and the sea had many interesting sights for us, 
in that they were ncAv. Our only source of entertainment was 
the band which played considerably. There was also a large 
collection of magazines aboard which were donated by the 
Araerican Red Cross. The boat drills every day were very 
unpopular, but at the same time helped to lessen the monotony 
of the voyage. 

Sept. 25, 1917, was our first real day of excitement. An 
incident occurred which we consider worthy of mention here. 
About the maddle of the afternoon, the engine slowed down, 
rnd the boat suddenly stopped. The officers ordered the crew 
to make ready and lower the emergency boat. Running to the 
port side we saw the cause of the trouble. A sailor had fallen 
overboard from the Battle-Cruiser, San Diego, and another 
f-ailor, seeing his plight, dived overboard to save him which 
he did after a great deal of swimming. We learned later on, 
that this man was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. 
He certainly deserved it. 

21 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR' 



Necessity compelled us to adopt several methods of se- 
curing food. Every night about twelve o'clock three or four 
•of the boys would proceed to the galley with canteens, under 
the pretense of securing water. While there, one man would 
stay on guard and the others would raid the pantry where the 
freshly baked bread was stored. In these raids we averaged 
;a dozen loaves of bread every night. There was a certain cor- 
poral in the battery who was a leader in all the raids. Ninety- 
two loaves was his record for the trip. We would then open 
some of our reserve rations of "corned willy," and with the 
bread, would have a feast. Many of the officers knew that 
this was going on, but they also knew of the predicament that 
the men were in on the food question, and, as they were pow- 
erless to interfere, they simply closed their eyes. This only 
goes to prove once again the old saying, "that a good soldier 
will never go hungry." There are many who would consider 
this a crime but to those who think this way let me ask one 
question, "have you ever in your life been really hungry and 
knew that there was food around, but you couldn't get it by 
asking?" I wonder what you'd do in a case like this? 

The latter part of the trip Avas very interesting. Little 
excitement prevailed, however, and we almost prayed for a 
submarine to show itself to liven up things a little bit. 

On October 1, at 2 P. M. we entered the war or danger 
zone. From then on until the completion of the voyage all life 
boats were swung from the davits ready for any emergency. 
Every man on board was compelled to wear his life belt. We 
even had to sleep in them. On October 3rd, early in the morning, 
our convoy was increased by five American destroyers. It was 
an inspiring sight to see these little ocean guards come sud- 
denly upon us as if from nowhere with "Old Glory" flying to 
the breeze. The last two days of the trip were exciting to a de- 
gree. We w^ere compelled to rise early in the morning and stand 
to the life boats, so that we would be ready in case a U-boat had 
followed us during the night. The favorite hour for torpedoing 
vessels by these Hun pirates was just before daybreak. But 
we did not fear them because we really did not think anything 
would happen. We placed our utmost confidence and faith in the 
United States Naval officers and crew. October 4, 1917, at 3.11 
the lighthouse on Belle-Isle, a small island off the coast of 

22 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

France, just north of St. Nazaire, was sighted. On October 
5th, at 3.16 A. M. we sighted the mainland and it was no more 
of a welcome sight to Columbus when he sighted America 
than the sight of France was to the troops on that ship. More 
naval craft and two seaplanes now came out to meet us and 
escorted us to the Harbor of St. Nazaire. We docked at 5.00 
P. M. at the mouth of the Loire River. 

The people of this ancient seaport certainly gave us a 
wonderful reception and we swore then and there that through 
no fault of our own, would they ever have reason to regret 
that welcome. The sight that impressed us most was the no- 
ticeable absence of young men on the docks and the almost un- 
iversal wearing of black and mourning. Many of the women, 
were so glad to see us that they wept for joy and hailed us 
as the "Saviours of France." It was an impression that will 
never be effaced from our memories. On the afternoon of 
October 6th, we paraded through the streets of St. Nazaire, 
then back to the ship again. At 8.30 A. M. October 7th, with full 
packs and equipment we disembarked and proceeded to the 
camp where we stayed for the next ten days. During our 
stay at St. Nazaire nothing of real significance took place. It 
rained incessantly all the time. The mud was almost knee 
deep. The food situation here was not much better than on 
the boat. We were quartered in Adrian Huts, long, narrow, 
wooden buildings of very poor material, covered on the out- 
side with tar paper. Inside there was no flooring and we were 
compelled to sleep on the damp ground. In some cases the 
men had to pitch pup-tents, because the roofs leaked so badly. 
There was a foot of water in one of the huts assigned to Bat- 
tery C. Most of our time at this camp was spent in foot drill. 
The rest of the time was spent constructing a reservoir for the 
city of St. Nazaire, as the water supply for the city was fur- 
nished by a small reservoir built by Napoleon and it was en- 
tirely inadequate. Amusements were scarce, but the Y. M. C. 
A. furnished movies and boxing bouts and passes were issued 
every night to go into the city. Getting used to the French 
money system was the cause of many amusing scenes and en- 
deavoring to understand the language caused a great deal of 
fun. 

23 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

There were several Y. M. C. A. canteens at the camp, but 
the greater part of the men were "broke" and could buy- 
nothing. The tobacco situation was fierce, but owing to the 
generosity of the citizens of Lawrence we were able to draw 
on the Battery fund. Capt. Daniels appointed Corporal Sirois 
to look into the matter of buying cigarettes and tobacco for 
the boys, at the U. S. Commissary. He purchased $250.00 worth 
of tobacco and cigarettes which were issued to the Battery. 
The amount Avas deducted from each man's pay. 

On October 17, 1917, at 3.15 P. M. we entered the rail- 
road station of St. Nazaire to start for our training camp. 
Hundreds of horse cars were in the freight yard, but no sign 
of passenger coaches. We were surprised, indeed, that all our 
traveling over the railroads from now on was to be in these 
horse cars. It was a very strange experience to enter these 
cars with a neatly painted sign outside stating that the car 
held 40 Hommes, Chevaux 8, in other words 40 men or 8 
horses. In a short while the train was on its way and as 
usual we had no idea where we were going. AVe v/ere satisfied 
to be in France and would just as soon have started for the 
front right away. 



24 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

CHAPTER IV 

The Training Period 

We arrived at Guer, our destination, in a downpour of 
rain. Huge French Army trucks were waiting for us and each 
one took on a load of men and started for the camp. Most of the 
truck drivers had served their apprenticeship driving over shell 
holes at the front, at least we surmised this, from the v/ay they 
manipulated the trucks. We were quartered that night in 
Avooden shacks. The following day Ave learned a little local 
history. This camp had been used by Napoleon. It Avas nick- 
named "Death Valley," OAving to the number of men who died 
there. The camp was some thirty kilometers distant from 
Rcnnes, the ancient Capital of Brittany, a very beautiful city 
Avith magnifieent public buildings. The city OAvned a large art 
gallery, public garden and an electric tramway system. One 
of the largest French military hospitals Avas situated in the 
heart of the city. Here we received our first impression of the 
horrors of Avar. Thousands of French soldiers, most of them 
maimed and crippled for life, Avere in this hospital. It Avas a 
pitiful sight to see the blind soldiers being led by Avounded 
comrades through the city. One of the most interesting spec- 
tacles Avas the number of foreign soldiers to be seen here, Rus- 
sians, Algerians, Arabs, Sengalese, French-Indo, Chinese, Por- 
tugese, in fact every nationality under the sun, the most cos- 
mopolitan population AA^e had every seen. Each nationality 
Avore the picturesque costumes of their respective countries. 
Most of these people worked in the ammunition factories op- 
erated by the French Government. The citizens of Rennes 
Avere very hospitable to the American troops stationed at the 
nearb3^ camp. 

Thousands of German prisoners were at Camp Coetqui- 
dan, building roads, stables and Avooden huts to accomodate 
the American troops Avho Avere to do their training at the 
camp. German prisoners of war refused to believe that Ave 
AA'ere Americans, feeling quite sure that their submarine Avar- 
fare prevented any American troops from getting over. They 
soon learned differently, hoAvever. 

25 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

On Oct 20, 1917, our real training began. Armed with 
picks, shovels and crowbars, we proceeded to the nearby- 
woods and commenced to learn the art of digging trenches, 
building dugouts and gun emplacements. During this time 
guns, horses and equipment were arriving every day from the 
French Arsenals. We were to use the famous French "75." 
All were eager and anxious to master the intricacies of the 
gun and our French Instructors stated that the U. S. troops 
were very apt pupils. After a certain period of drilling, the 
day arrived for us to go to the huge range leased by the U. S. 
Government. The people were all ordered from their homes 
which were left standing as targets. The batteries would then 
fire on them just as if they were occupied by German troops. 
Later on we began firing at night, also with the aid of aero- 
planes and observation balloons. It was the most realistic 
gun practice we ever heard of. We could see huge shells blow- 
ing roads, bridges and buildings into the air. In the mean- 
time the telephone detail Avere busy learning the art of estab- 
lishing communication, digging trenches for the protection of 
the wires, as the telephone was considered the most important 
factor of communication during the war. 

The battery constructed an exact reproduction of what 
we would do when we went into our first sector. We laid 
miles upon miles of telephone wires, erected radio stations, dug 
machine gun emplacements, etc. Most of this Avork was per- 
formed during the bitter winter with snow in evidence every- 
where. After our day's work was finished we used to hike to 
the nearby villages of Guer and St. Malo, where we could pur- 
chase meals at a reasonable price. The Government issue of 
food at this time was terrible, breakfast — rice and molasses, 
coffee with no milk or sugar, dinner and supper — most any- 
thing. The gun crews during this time never had a minute to 
themselves — up before daybreak and back to bed after dark. 
Horses, guns, caissons, wagons, were everywhere. It was out 
on the range every morning firing at targets over on the near- 
by hills. It was a wonderful sight to see, with the aid of field 
glasses, a big shell land on the top of a roof and when the 
smoke cleared away to see a gaping hole in the side of the 
building. We anxiously looked forward to the day when we 
would be dropping shells on the German lines with the same 

26 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

effect. Thanksgiving day arrived and the battery held a ban- 
quet in one of the wooden shacks. The decorations consisted 
of holly and evergreen. The program follows : 



EXACT COPY OF THE PROGRAMS ISSUED AT OUR 
THANKSGIVING DINNER AND CONCERT 

WITH THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES 
Camp Coetquidan — France 

THANKSGIVING DINNER AND CONCERT 
November 29, 1917 BATTERY C, 102d F. A. 

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS PRESENT 

Major Robert E. Goodwin, 102d F. A. 

Captain Roy A. Daniels, Battery C, 102d F. A. 

Lieut. William B. Higgins, H'dqs. 102d F. A. 

Lieut. William F. Howe, Jr., Battery C, 102d F. A. 

Chaplain Murray W. Stackpole, 102d F. A. 

Lieut. Herman Lephron, 149th F, A., 42d Div. 

Lieut. Thomas P. Atkinson, 149th F. A., 42d Div. 

Lieut. Andrew W. Thompson, Battery C, 102d F. A. 

Lieut. Prentiss French, Battery C, 102d F. A. 

Lieut. Nathan Kroll, Battery C, 102d F. A. 

Chaplain WiUiam F. Farrell, 103d F. A. 

NOTE— Two of the officers above from the 149th F. A. are old 
Battery C men. Lieut. Lephron was formerly the Battery's Sergeant 
Instructor and Lieut. Atkinson was a former Sergeant in the Battery. 
Both were acting as Sergeant Instructors in the regular army and 
when war was declared were commissioned. 

MENU 

TURKEY DRESSING 

MASHED POTATOES 

BOILED ONIONS SQUASH 

DOUGHNUTS CELERY APPLE PIE 

COFFEE 
NUTS DATES ORANGES 

SMOKES 



27 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

PROGRAM 

1 Quartette — Medley mixed choruses 

2 Song — Sunshine of Your Smile PvT. Ben Poole 

3 Recitation — Modern Version of the House that Jack Built 

Corp. William McGinnis 

4 Song — He Never Came Back Corp. T. J. Barry 

5 Song — La Belle Marie Sgt. Joseph Pageau 

6 Recitation — Gramaphone of Fond du Lac PvT. Charles Miles 

7 Duet — (a) Larboard Watch 

{'b)All the World Will be Jealous of Me 

PvTs. Harry and Ben Poolr 
S Song — Someone More Lonesome Than You Ccoic Wr.i. Carney 
9 Recitation — A Soldier's Nightmare (by Pvt. Haiold Gardner) 

PvT. James Bradley 

10 Recitation — Dangerous Dan McGrew 

PvT. (Kloby) Thomas Corcoran 

11 Song — Mag Murphy's Chow CooK Phillip Riley 

12 Songs— (a) / Don't Want to Go to War 

(b) Little Grey Home in the West 

Pvt. Joseph Lonegan 

13 Recitation — (a) The Cremation of Sam McGee 

(b) Just in Fun 

(c) Those Rumors Corp. Edward D. Sirois 

14 Songs — (a) Tm-n Back the Universe 

(b) Black Sheep 

(c) Lonesome Battery Quartette 

15 Parodies — On Modem Songs Pvt. Charles Bishop 

16 Song — Battery C (by Sgt. Louis P. Berwick, reserver) 

Entire Battery 
Battery Quartette — Pvt. Charles Poole, Pvt. Harry Poole, Pvt. 
Ben Poole, Cook William Carney. 

Violinists — Pvt. John Fortin, Pvt. Charles Miles. 

Christmas passed vi^ithoiit much notice. We were expect- 
ing to move to the front any day so no preparations v.'ere 
made for a celebration. "Corned Willy" was the principal 
item on the menu card for that day. 

We were away from home and in strange country just 
long enough to realize what letters from home really meant. 

28 



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ra 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

Mail day was far more important than pay-day. Unfortunate, 
indeed, was the man who did not receive mail while he looked 
around and saw his comrades, sitting on their bunks devouring 
every line in the letters and then reading them over and over 
again. Next to the letters were the parcels and home papers. 
When one member of a certain crowd would receive a parcel 
or box, the whole "gang" would gather around and if he suc- 
ceeded in getting anything himself he was lucky, and he in 
turn would pull the same stunt on some other member of the 
crowd v/hen his package would arrive. 

New Year's eve arrived and the boys decided to welcome 
the New Year in. Just after midnight, some members of our 
regimental band marched up and down the road through the 
camp with their instruments, playing any and every tune they 
happened to think of. Other men from the batteries secured 
pistols and ammunition and a stranger would have had the 
impression that he was back in the wild and woolly west. 

Later that day our first real tragedy occurred. Private 
Everett Roy Kenney, one of the boys in the battery and a 
member of the special detail, succumbed to an attack of Spinal 
meningitis. He was the first boy in the Battery and the first 
Lawrence man to lose his life in the War. He v/as buried the 
following day with full military honors and wdth Father Far- 
rell officiating. A tiner little soldier never lived and he was 
greatly missed by his comrades with whom he sailed for 
France. Extraordinary precautions were taken to prevent an 
epidemic. Our battery was segregated from the rest of the 
regiment and three times a day we were marched to the medi- 
cal station to have our throat sprayed with an antiseptic. No 
other case was reported. 

The rest of the time until February 3, 1917, was spent in 
intensive drilling and preparing for the journey to the front. 
We knew that a tough time was ahead of us, but all felt that 
the firing line was much more acceptable than this life in the 
training camp. We wanted to show the Boche and our 
friends away back in Lawrence, what we were capable of do- 
ing. 

February 3, 1917, at 8.30 A. M. saw the first battery of the 
regiment pulling out. At 5.00 P. M. the same evening the 
102nd F, A, was on its way to the Western Front. 

29 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 
CHAPTER V 

SOISSONS — BUCY-LE-LONG — CHEMIN-DES-DaMES 

Our destination was a mystery; rumors were rife; when 
they were counted up, we were on our way to every sector 
from the English Channel to the Swiss Border, but not one of 
them came from a reliable source. The one stating that we 
were on our way to Toul had more supporters than all the 
others. This, later on, turned out to be false. 

On this trip we traveled in our special (palace) horse cars 
only forty men to a car. If the authorities had tried harder, 
they would have been able to find room for one more man. 
We were so crowded we had hardly room enough to stand up 
and lying down was entirely out of the question. Many of the 
boys sought the flat cars on which our guns, caissons and other 
wheeled material was being transported and there made their 
bunks under the wagons. The food on this trip was just as bad 
as ever with this exception, a pound can of jam went to every 
fifteen men. Very little which is worthy of note took place on 
this trip. We made two fairly long stops, the first at Lagle, 
to water horses, the second at Mantes, where French soldiers 
supplied us with hot coffee (French style). Here we got a 
chance to wash ourselves. We were following the route on 
a map and at one time were heading straight for Paris. Ex- 
citement ran high through the entire Battery. We looked for- 
ward to passing through the great city, but here again our 
hopes soon received another severe jolt, because we turned off 
the main line to Paris within three kilometers of the city itself. 
The country through which we passed was very beautiful and 
picturesque. One outstanding feature that attracted our at- 
tention was the fact that almost every foot of ground was cul- 
tivated and all the work on the farms and in the fields was 
being performed by French peasant Avomen. 

February 4, 1917, about 5.30 P. M. three aeroplanes form- 
ed an escort and traveled with us as a protection against air 
raids. We were nearing the front at last. The Western Battle 
Front of Europe. Oh! how much we had read, dreamed, and 

30 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

heard of this front! How we had looked forward to this 
night ! As soon as it became dark, we noticed another pecu- 
liarity; everything was in darkness; the roofs of the houses 
were silhouetted against the skyline ; no lights were allowed 
on the train ; the striking of matches was absolutely forbid- 
den. As we peered through the door of the train very little 
was to be seen in the immediate vicinity. This was necessary 
to protect us from Boche aviators dropping bombs on the 
train. The motto of the Boche aviator was, "Where there's 
light, there's life." 

That night at seven-thirty our train pulled into the freight- 
yard of the historic city of Soissons. By eight P. M. we were 
unloaded, harnessed and ready to move. We were in the war 
zone and the distant thunder of big guns could be easily heard. 
A small group of Foil us standing nearby, informed us that the 
front was about twenty-five kilometers distant. 

As we moved out of the freight yard on our way to billets 
we noticed that the once beautiful railroad station was a mass 
of wreckage. The streets through which we passed were filled 
with debris ; no solid roofs were to be seen on the houses. In 
the darkness, the true horror of the situation did not strike 
us. A little later we pulled into a field well dotted with small 
trees, which furnished excellent camouflage and here parked all 
our carriages and guns. The horses were then billeted in some 
French army stables nearby. Carrying all our equipment, we 
hiked about a kilometer to the once beautiful, magnificent 
cathedral of Soisson, where we were to sleep for the night. It 
was now a mass of ruins, with not a single window left un- 
broken, half the steeple shot away, gaping holes in the roof 
and the interior stripped of everything considered valuable 
by the advocates of German Kultur. It Avas 1.30 A. M. before 
things quieted down and despite the excitement caused by be- 
ing so near the front, the distant rumble of guns, the danger 
of air raids, in fact although there were a hundred and one rea- 
sons for not going to sleep, most of the men were immediately 
embraced in the arms of Morpheus, simply through sheer ex- 
haustion. 

The same morning Capt. Daniels, Sgt. John J. McCarthy 
and Private John L. Ferguson, left the Battery at 5.00 
A. M. to reconnoiter the road and to determine the next place 

31 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''AYORLD Wx\R" 

at which we would stop. The remainder of the battery was up 
at 7.00 A. M. and immediately made preparations to move. 
Regardless of the fact that we had been vrorking very hard 
for the past week, with very little sleep and very poor food, 
the battery was in the highest of spirits. At 8.00 A. M. we 
were on our way. Our route led directly through the heart of 
the rained city of Soissons. Here v\^e noticed that although the 
business section was gone it was not hard to realize what it 
had been in former days. The residential section was shell 
torn, wrecked and battered beyond recognition. The stumps 
of trees that once lined the handsome driveways stood out as 
mute witnesses of what German Kultur v^^as doing for civiliza- 
tion. Blood rushed to our eyes; we were filled with indigna- 
tion and horror at the sacking of this city, which held no mil- 
itary value to either side. The city was constantly under the fire 
of the German Artillery and subject to air-raids almost every 
night, but the faithful French population — at least a number 
of them — still clung to the homes of their birth and hailed us 
with shouts and cheers as we passed on our way to the front. 

Sergeant John J. McCarthy, who had gone ahead 
and who had been over the route we were to follow, 
met us on the outskirts of the city and guided us to our 
next stopping place. New and interesting sights greeted us 
as we trudged along. On all sides were signs of war, destruc- 
tion and devastation. Huge ammunition depots with thous- 
ands of rounds of munitions, concealed under camouflage, and 
supply depots of every description were to be seen along the 
route. Trenches, barbed wire entanglements and dugouts 
were very prominent. A great many arbries with signs over 
the doors stating that they held a certain number of people 
and were to be used in case of air raids were also everywhere. 
Gaping shell holes stared us in the face. One particular sign 
that greeted us v/as a large inscription on a building, formerly 
a factory, GOTT STRAFFE ENGLAND— 1914-1916. Many 
other evidences of Hun occupation were noticed on this hike. 
They told the story only too well of the early fighting at the 
beginning of the war. In the fields on both sides of the road 
small mounds of earth with rude Avooden crosses marked the 
last resting place of friend and foe alike. 

February fifth, about noon, after a hike of over eight kil- 

32 



WITH FIGI-ITING BATTERY C 



ometers, we arrived in the tovm of Biicy-le-long and if we 
thonght Soissons was in ruins we quickly changed our rninds 
when we arrived here. Not a single house was standing in the 
entire town. There were a great many French soldiers here 
and they lived in caves and dugouts built under the ruins of 
the buildings. The entire first battalion of our regiment was sta- 
tioned in this town and each was assigned to a certain sec- 
tion of the town. Battery C, was billeted on the grounds of 
an old monastery, which had been totally destroyed. A big 
wall about twenty feet high surrounded the entire estate and 
after four years of neglect there M-^ere traces of the once beau- 
tiful gardens, lawais and trees. At one time it must have been 
a magnificent place of beauty. The guns and carriages were 
camouflaged under trees and the horses placed in stables hid- 
den under trees and shrubbery. The men were billeted in 
v/ooden shacks which were also camouflaged. We were for- 
bidden to use lights at night. The remainder of this day and 
all of the next was spent in cleaning the grounds, shacks, 
grooming horses, cleaning harnesses and guns. After this was 
completed we made an attempt to clean ourselves and were 
p-artially successful. 

February 7th, at 10.00 P. M., one of the darkest nights we 
had ever experienced, with a cold raw wind bloAving and a 
drizzling rain falling, the battery began the march which 
would bring them to the front positions. Absolute silence pre- 
vailed. Just enough men to man the guns, including the tele- 
phone detail, went up that night. The boys who were not so 
fortunate wished us all God-speed. In a short while the col- 
umn was wending its way to the hills surrounding the city. 
Silently, gravely and cautiously the battery moved over the 
BLOODY ROAD TO VAILLY, immortalized by Robert W. 
Service. Not a man spoke, the gloom of the darkness seemed 
to take hold of our four-legged pals as well. The only sound 
Avhich broke the monotony of this silent night was the dull 
thud of the horses hoofs on the soft road and the clinking of 
the traces as the chains struck each other. Everything has 
its funny side no matter how grave the situation may be. One 
such incident occurred at this time. Matthew Linehan had a 
horse which insisted on neighing and Matty patiently put up 
with it for awhile, but finally, being annoyed by the constant 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

neighing of the beast, addressed himself to the horse in this 
manner, ''Shut up, you damn fool, do you want the Huns to 
know we're comin'." 

We had traveled about three kilometers and the road led 
us to the summit of a hill and the sight which met our gaze 
sent a thrill through us. In the distance, on all sides, flashes 
of guns were observed, both large and small. It was no longer 
a distant rumble, but a distinct crack. We were there at last. 
Star shells would shoot up at different points and illuminate 
the surrounding country. Even though the night was terribly 
dark, when one of these star shells or flares went up, the last 
man in the battery could plainly see the "skipper" at the 
head. While the flare was burning, machine gun fire was dis- 
tinctly heard. There was no mistaking the rat-tat-tat rat-tat- 
tat of these machines of death. Time and again we thought 
that we had been discovered, but the thing that tried our 
nerve the most was when one of the big shells would come 
shrieking, whizzing and land on the road just ahead or just 
behind us and burst with a terrific explosion, the splinters and 
fragments, scattering through space. We were receiving our 
baptism of fire but not a man quailed under the ordeal. 

In due time we came to a place Avhere another guide Avas 
aAvaiting us ; here we turned off the main road through a field, 
literally filled Avith shell holes. There was not a foot of this 
field that had not been raked with shell-fire. It was a tough 
pull, but our faithful horses, our best pals at the front, pulled 
us through without mishap. About a hundred meters from 
the road was our position. Here, quickly and silently, we un- 
loaded the fourgons (French army Avagons), rations, uncoupled 
the guns and other equipment. The limbers and empty AA'ag- 
ons then started back over the same route Avhich Ave had taken 
for the Echelon. The men at the position Avorked hard for tAA'o 
long hours in the dark, putting the guns into position and get- 
ting ammunition ready. Our Avork Avas completed about 2.00 
A. M. Each section Avas then assigned to the dugout in AA'hich 
their homes Avere to be for the time being. A discussion noAV 
took place in each dougout of the trip up and things in gen- 
eral. It certainly Avas a great experience, the most AA'onderful 
and fascinating in all of our lives up to that time. Later on 

34 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



when we were fully baptized to enemy shell-fire we used to 
laugh and joke at our uneasy feelings on this night and when 
we compare it to some of our later exploits it certainly was 
tame, but at the same time it must be remembered that a sin- 
gle false step or miscalculation would have brought us to 
grief. Our officers had performed a wonderful feat at the 
start and it was for this reason that the men placed the utmost 
confidence in them. Consequently a high state of discipline 
and morale prevailed from the outset and without this the 
"Yankee Division" never would have accomplished what it 
did. A successful army must place the greatest confidence in 
its officers and our men had confidence in our officers and the 
officers in turn had the co-operation of the men ; that in brief 
is the secret of the wonderful record made by the "Yankee 
Division." 

It ain't the guns nor armament 

nor funds that they can pay, 
But the close co-operation 

that makes them win the day. 
It ain't the individual 

nor the army as a whole, 
But the everlastin' teamwork 

of every bloomin' soul. 

Rudyard Kipling 

February the eighth, was our first day at the front. "We 
slept rather late making up for some of the sleep we had lost. 
The day was very misty and owing to this fact, it was impos- 
sible to conduct observation, and consequently no firing was 
attempted. Most of the time was spent in cleaning the dug- 
outs, as they had not been used since the Germans were driven 
out the previous November. The gun crews set the guns on 
the enemy lines and the telephone detail began the gigantic 
task of laying the telephone lines and setting up a central. 
This position was situated about half way up a hill, on 
the forward slope. About three hundred meters north was 
what in pre-war days was known as the village of Allemant, 
now a mass of wreckage. About two hundred and fifty meters 

35 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 



directly in rear of us vras a French battery with whom vre be- 
came the best of pals. To our right was a deep valley which 
ran at right angles to the front and extended back into our 
lines for about three kilometers and Avhich was under direct 
observation of the Boclie at all times. On the hill south of the 
valley, Batteries A and B of our regiment were in position. 
In the village of AUemant there was one battery of the 103d 
F. A. (155 howitzers, 6-inch) and two French batteries with 
ninety milimeter guns. Our battalion P. C. (Post of Com- 
mand) was in a big cave about three kilometers in the rear. 
This at one time was a quarry which supplied most of the 
stone for the public buildings in Paris. It was undermined 
with galleries after the style of a coal mine and was capable 
of holding about forty thousand men. One could walk in 
these galleries for 21 kilometers without traversing the same 
ground twice. V7hen the French recaptured this sector from 
the Boche in November the prisoners taken amounted to close 
on to 17,000 right in this quarry. 

While in this sector we worked under and in conjunction 
with the French army. Most of these Poilus had seen four 
years of service in the war and were well posted and trained 
in the fundamental as well as the advanced principles of mod- 
ern warfare. Even though it was exceedingly hard for us to 
understand their language and as we did not altogether agree 
with their customs and manners, we often felt that we would 
have liked to tell them how we considered modern warfare 
should be conducted. We got along fine with them and made 
rapid progress under their excellent teaching. They after- 
wards said that we were very good pupils. French officers, 
non-commissioned officers and privates instructed us patiently 
day and night and to them is due, in a large measure, our later 
successes. 

At 10.41 A. M. February 9, 1918, Battery C, fired their 
first shot in our fight for freedom and well the Germans may 
rue that day. That very shot was even heard away back here 
in Lawrence for that same night pencils and paper were flying 
at top speed and the next day the officers threw up their 
hands in dismay at the deluge of letters thrust upon them for 
censorship. Capt. Roy A. Daniels conducted the fire from a 
forward observation post. Lt. Andrew Thompson was the 

36 




Top: Lt. Ed. D. Sirois then Corp., just back at Echelon from 
front with message, Chemin-des-Dames Sector; Center Left: Sgt. 
Wm. I. Hart receiving firing data over telephone, Chemin-des- 
Dames Sector; Center Right: Ruins of house, Bucy-le-Long, 
Chemin-des-Dames Sector. This is typical of all buildings close to 
the front; Bottom: Ruins of catholic church, Bucy-le-Long, 
Chemin-des-Dames Sector. Battery C's Echelon was in this church. 
The men in the pictures all of Battery C, are reading letters just 
in from the States, they are: Left to Right, top row: Pvts. Irving 
Craven, Tommy (Kloby) Corcoran; Mus. Arthur Morin, Pvt, 
Bernard Coia; Extreme Left: Pvt. Frank Hayes; Bottom Row: 
Pvts. John A. Kavanah; Thomas Lacey; Herbert Slattery; Edward 
Coughlin and Corp. Wilfred Cote. Photos by authors. 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



executive officer and pulled the lanyard. Sergeant Edward 
O 'Leary was chief of the gun section. 

The empty shell case was preserved and sent to Armorer 
John P. Ryan to be placed in the Lawrence Armory as a last- 
ing memorial. It required twenty-one rounds to register the 
gun. The other three guns were then laid parallel. 

The first shell fired by the Boche to land on our position 
was a German 77, exploding within one meter of the fourth 
piece at about 2.45 P. M. Feb. 9, 1918. Sgt. Charles Haiiley 
and Corp. William Menzie who were in the gun pit at the time 
were knocked down by the concussion, but sustained no injury. 

Sunday, Feb. 10, the Boche paid their respects to us hand- 
somely and at some cost. At 4.15 P. M., while we were all 
seated in gun-pits or dugouts eating supper, a Boche bat- 
tery opened up on our position with 77 's. We were receiving 
our first baptism under steady, concentrated fire. The projec- 
tiles came so fast and landing right in the position and were 
so scattered — the Germans using the sweeping fire method — 
that to say we were startled would be useless. But soon we 
Avere having a lot of fun at the expense of the Hun, for, after 
the first wave of excitement was over, the boys stood in the 
doorw^ays of the dugouts and smilingly passed such remarks 
as, ''drop us another card, Bill." This concentrated fire lasted 
three-quarters of an hour and in all about two hundred rounds 
were dropped, tAventy-two of which were duds (defective). 

The next new thing introduced to us was codes. Every 
message, every unit, station, central, name of everything and 
in fact every word sent over the telephone had to be sent in 
code. Codes were arranged and changed every so often and 
from this time on until the Armistice was signed, every word 
sent over the phone was in cipher. Just about this time v/e 
were also introduced to another feature of modern warfare, 
an enemy to sleep, comfort and peace, and no man was con- 
sidered a soldier until he could place his hand down his neck 
and pull out any size cootie a comrade demanded. 

The Boche were without a doubt m^asters of the air in 
this particular sector and their aviators were very active. 
Boche planes came over day and night and did a great deal of 
damage, besides taking a great many photographs. For this 
reason perfect camouflage Avas an absolute necessity. Owing 

37 



SMASHING THROUGiH THE "WORLD AVAR" 

to their supremacy of the air, movements of troops had to be 
concealed and there were days at a time when it was impos- 
sible to perform w^ork of any kind while the day was clear. 
The battery machine gun crew consisting of Corp. Albert 
Noble, Harold Gardner, William Ruediger and Robert Lay- 
<cock, got in a great deal of practice, however, and soon became 
'efficient in their particular line of work. The French and 
American anti-aircraft batteries performed good work put- 
ting up aerial barrages and although seldom bringing a plane 
down were often instrumental in making them seek the pro- 
tection of their own lines. An aerial barrage is a wonderful 
sight and Ave used to enjoy watching the bursting shells and 
the maneuvering of the planes. It is especially pretty at night 
when the flash of the bursting shells can be seen; also the 
score of searchlights used in locating the Hun fliers. It was a 
wonderful spectacle. The towns and villages in the rear suf- 
fered greatly from aerial raids. Our Echelon was bombarded 
by aeroplanes almost every other night and they were also a 
source of terror to our observation balloons, because they 
would sneak over in the clouds and suddenly swoop down on 
a balloon, drop a bomb on it and the balloon went up in a 
mass of flames. Six allied balloons were brought down in this 
manner, during our stay in this sector. We quickly learned 
the distinction between the allied and enemy air-craft. The 
Boche planes had a black Maltese cross on the wings and tail 
and the engine does not have a steady whirr, but breaks. The 
Allied planes on the other hand have red, white and blue cir- 
cles on the wings and tail, the colors simply being reversed to 
distinguish British, French and American. All the allied en- 
gines have a steady whirr. The signal used to make known 
that hostile planes were around was one sharp blast of a whis- 
tle, at which all were supposed to seek cover. Two blasts 
meant ''all clear." 

A rocket guard was also maintained here, whose duty it 
was to watch our sector for rocket signals from the Infantry 
and report the same. In case of a barrage signal, he would 
simply shout, "barrage," and the guard on the guns Avould 
fire the first shot. At the sound of the first round, the entire 
gun crew would be awakened and immediately get on the job. 

After the first Aveek on this front, tAvo men Avent every 

38 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



other day for a two days' course of instruction with French 
soldiers to a forward observatory where movements of the en- 
emy were seen with powerful glasses. These observatories 
were situated in a wood about two hundred meters from the 
front line. 

On Feb. 25, we moved from the position which we had oc- 
cupied since our arrival in this sector to the position formerly 
held by the French battery directly behind us, they having 
been relieved. This was a much better position as it afi'orded 
us a much larger field of fire and the dugouts and protection 
were also better. In the early morning the Boche began a 
bombardment on our position which was very annoying. One 
shell was a direct hit on an ammunition arbri of the first sec- 
tion which started a fire. However, despite the fact that ene- 
my shell fire was still coming in and that they were in great 
danger the first section gun crew under Sgt. Ed. 'Leary stuck 
to their posts and put the fire out. 

When we entered this sector it was considered quiet, but 
it soon became active enough and we were in for extended 
bombardments of gas and H. E. (high explosive) at all hours 
of the day and night. The Frenchmen were angry with us for 
a time because they said we stirred the Boche up too much. 
There were several well directed raids carried out by the 
Boche, one on the 19th of February and another one on the 
28th but owing to the rapid response of our artillery, both 
were broken up, and the casualties of the Infantry were very 
slight. Our Infantry also carried out several raids into the 
German lines which were very successful. During the course 
of these raids Sgt. John Letzing of the 104th Inf. took the first 
prisoner taken by any American soldier in this war. On the 
night of Feb. 23d, a raiding party of the 101st Inf. captured 
24 prisoners, including three officers. This was the first time 
that American troops had raided the German lines and also 
the first time that American infantry went over the top fol- 
lowing a barrage laid down by American Artillery. 

Directly to the right of our new position was a deep nar- 
roAv ravine, the hill on the other side of which, sloped gradual- 
ly. On this slope was a French cemetery wherein were 
buried 102 French soldiers. They all belonged to the 30th. 
Hegt. French Inf. All of these men were killed on Oct. 23rd. 

39 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 

1917, when the French recaptured this sector from the Germans. 
There was a lone German with a machine gun on a hill opposite 
and he picked off these Frenchmen as they attempted to get 
him. He succeeded in killing 102 before he himself was killed. 
Each grave was marked with a cross bearing the man's name, 
regt. and the date on which he met his death. The German 
was buried just below this cemetery. It is a singular fact that 
when the French buried this German, they also buried his 
machine gun with him and the inscription on his little cross 
states that he died a brave and fearless soldier. This sector 
was covered with graves scattered here and there many of 
which were torn open by shells and the bodies exposed in many 
cases. We found a great many bodies of both French and 
German in exploring around. 

As this was a training sector, Capt. Daniels, in order to 
give every man a chance to learn both ends of the war gam.e 
relieved men at the position every day and sent them back to 
the Echelon and brought men up from the latter place to re- 
place them. In this v.^ay every man soon became qualified to 
do duty at either place. 

The men at the Echelon lived in shacks and in case of 
shelling or air-raids were compelled to jump into a trench con- 
structed for this purpose. All the limbers, wagons, horses, in 
fact, all supplies of the battery not needed at the front were 
kept here. It was the duty of the men to feed, water and groom 
the horses, to keep the harness, wheeled material and other 
equipment in good condition, to supply the men at the front 
Avith rations, water and ammunition whenever they were need- 
ed. Mail was also taken up on these nightly trips. 

As was previously stated this sector was primarily a training 
sector for us. We worked hard to obtain precision, efficiency 
and accuracy which are the fundamentals of artillery fire and 
all these with full confidence were rapidly secured. We also 
became experts at shirt reading (discovering the abode of the 
elusive cootie). 

To further shovv^ the good-fellowship that existed between 
the French and Americans, General Edwards, on the eve of our 
departure from this sector issued an order stating that the 26th. 
United States Division, would be pleased to have the 11th. 

40 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



French Army Corps as Godfather for the Division. General 
Maud Hny commander of the 11th. French Army Corps, replied 
in an order of the day saying, * ' The llth. Corps feels proud of 
the marked honor, being sure that wherever he may be sent, 
the Godson shall be credit to the Godfather," 



41 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

CHAPTER VI 

Off To Lorraine 

The news that we were to leave this sector was not very- 
welcome as we had begun to regard it as a home. Still, we 
looked forward to entering a much more active one and we 
were under the impression that we Avere going in, to support 
the British in Flanders. March 20, 1917, arrived — the day of 
our departure. The Boche had serenaded us with gas shells the 
night before. We A\'alked around the gun position examining 
the new shell holes and trying to find out how much damage 
had been done. During the day Ave were not allowed to per- 
form any Avork Avhile aeroplanes Avere up, as Germany, at this 
time, had supremacy of the air, AAdth the result that very little 
Avas accomplished until night-fall. About eight o'clock that 
evening our horses arrived from the Echelon at Bucy-le-long. 
AVe AA'orked silently in the darkness and soon the guns, am- 
munition and supplies Avere out of the gun pits. At 12.45 A. M. 
Ave started for the rear. In the distance, machine gun fire Avas 
plainly heard and occasionally flares or star shells Avould shoot 
up into the sky and illuminate the country for miles around. 
We succeeded in sneaking out unobserved. We hiked about 
ten kilometers and our thoughts Avere anything but pleasant, 
travelling along that road. 

We just retired from the Chemin-des-Dames sector in time, 
for CA^en as Ave Avere entraining at Mercin-et-Vaux, a little toAvn 
outside of Soisson, a bombardment began and all roads and \dl- 
lages in this section Avere heavily shelled. This marked the 
beginning of the German drive of March 21st, 1918. The 
Germans SAvept over the positions just vacated by us and Avere 
not halted until they had penetrated into allied territory as far 
as Chateau-Thierry, forming the famous Chateau-Thierry or 
Marne salient, the reducing of Avhich, Ave Avere later to have 
such a large share in. The Allies kncAv that this drive Avas com- 
ing through the Intelligence Service, and the 26th Avould gladly 
ha\'e accepted the opportunity of staying in this sector and 
helping to stem the tide, but Ave realized, as Avell as the French, 

42 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

that, although we were fast developing into a first class divi- 
sion, we were not at this critical time capable of undertaking 
such a gigantic task. 

We knew from experience that the Boehe had a perfect 
range of the road and if he thought that the road was being 
used we were well aware that he could put a shell on any part 
of it that he saw fit and at the same time we would be unable 
to return the fire, as our 75 's were unable to reach his lines at 
this point. Our heavy Artillery had preceeded us, so that we 
Avould have been without protection. The following day we 
passed through the city of Soisson or what was left of it, to 
board the train. Just as we were entering the city, the Huns, 
as a parting shot, it seemed, opened up with long range guns 
and dropped about ten shells in a big field near the railroad 
track causing us all to duck instinctively as the shells passed 
over our heads. 

That evening we boarded our train during an air-raid, but 
as we were hardened against them by this time, it did not 
cause us much worry. We loaded horses etc. and started off, 
passing through Epernay and the martyred city of Rheims. 
Rheims was a terrible sight from the train, not a whole building 
being visible. We arrived at Brienne-le-Chateau at 4.00 P. ]M. 
the following day. Major General Clarence R. Edwards and 
Col. Parker (machine gun Parker) of the 102nd. Infantry were 
on the platform when we arrived. After the battery had been 
hitched up, Col. Parker told Col. Locke that he wished to speak 
to the Battery. He stated that back in America he didn't have 
any use for the Artillery, but while we were in the Chemin-des- 
Dames sector, he had been forced to change his opinion. He 
told us that with the ''Yankee Division" Artillery supporting 
them, the doughboys of the Division would go anywhere, as they 
felt perfectly secure "with you fellows behind them." General 
Edwards then spoke a few words of encouragement to the bat- 
tery. That evening at 11.00 P. M. we reached our billets on 
the outskirts of the city of Bar-sur-Aube. The sleeping quar- 
ters were in an old flour mill Avhich had ceased to run for many 
years. 8.00 A. M. the following day found us on the hike again. 
We learned that we were on a forced march to some sector in 
Lorraine. Our billets that night were in hay lofts with cows 
and horses down stairs. The village was called Colombe-la- 

43 



SMASHING THROUGH TPIE "WORLD WAR" 



Fosse. The food on the hike was terrible for tlie most part con- 
sisting of canned tomatoes and hard tack together with the ev- 
erlasting corned Vvdlly. It was quite a hardship to be riding or 
walking from long before day-break until long after sunset, 
sleeping and hiking without removing one's clothes. The horses 
of the Division were unfortunate as well as the men. They 
were compelled to work on considerably less food owing to the 
extraordinary conditions prevailing. It was pathetic to see 
these poor animals straining and pulling on the traces trying 
to do their ''bit," yet, through lack of sufficient food maldng 
but little progress. There is a certain affection between master 
and horse in the army that does not exist elsewhere. Soldiers 
have been knoAvn to sit down exhausted themselves and the 
tears would come to their eyes as they looked at those poor 
horses. These same men have bought grain from the French 
farmers or have stolen it in order to keep the faithful brutes 
from actually dying from starvation. 

During all this hiking absolute discipline prevailed; shoes 
had to be cleaned ; harness kept in trim ; guns and carriages 
washed ; all, just the same as if we were parading in Washing- 
ton. After the second day of the hike, the popular impression 
of "Join the Artillery and Ride," was rudely shattered. The 
gun crevv's were compelled to march with packs behind the 
guns and it was no easy task keeping the same pace as our 
four-legged chums. 

Good Friday found us entering the small village of Le- 
Grande. The townsfolks were all standing in their doorways 
with that typical, sad expression on their faces — so commonly 
seen in all those villages situated close to the front, showing 
also that they had felt the effect of the war far more than those 
outside this section of the country. The bad weather and the 
insufficient food for men and horses were beginning to tell. 
Horses were dropping dead from colic and exhaustion and the 
roads becarae spotted with their carcasses. The men were 
trying to stick it out. The v/hole outfit was "all in." Twelve 
days of forced hiking under fearful weather conditions and 
with nothing but canned tomatoes, corned v»dlly and hard tack 
with the exception of two meals when we had bread, was near- 
ly breaking the spirit of the men, but they tightened up their 
belts, gritted their teeth and went to it. 

44 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



Easter Sunday at 4.00 A. M. we straggled into the village 
of Coursey. It had rained for the past 48 hours without a let up 
and our raincoats were like wet rags. AVe understand that 
they were made by a firm of patriotic manufacturers who are 
now spending a vacation in one of the Federal prisons for de- 
frauding the government. 

We were needed in a hurry and no rest was to be given 
man or beast. At 11.00 o'clock that morning, Capt. Daniels, 
Sergeants Clarence Davis and John McCarthy, and Private 
John L. Ferguson were ordered to proceed to the front in a 
truck and pick out a Battery position. We realized that some- 
thing Avas going on. Thousands of French troops Avere quar- 
tered in the nearby fields. Three days later, on a beautiful 
afternoon the column was halted on a magnificent road several 
miles long and shaded with tall poplars. Despatch riders on 
motor-cycles were flying along the road delivering orders. In 
the distance could be seen the city of Toul. At 4.00 P. M. a 
huge army truck arrived into which we threw all our personal 
belongings and also with the aid of steel girders rolled into it 
the first piece (gun). Our horses were turned over to our com- 
rades and the truck, Avith the first gun section. Sergeant 
Bernard Lynch in charge and the telephone detail Avith Lt. 
Davis in command, started off for the front amid the farcAA^ells 
and best Avishes for good luck from the battery. This method 
of transportation Avas necessary as our horses Avere incapable 
of continuing the trip to the front in time to relicA'e the divi- 
sion, Avhich was holding the sector. Each battery had sent a 
truck in a similar manner and all the trucks Avere to meet in a 
certain village some kilometers distant at night-fall. At 9.00 
P. M. prompt, the convoy left the village. The truck drivers, 
except the driver of the first truck Avere men Avho had never 
been over the road before. The others were ordered to keep 
each other in sight. This Avas no easy task, as it Avas a pitch 
dark night and no lights of any kind Avere to be shown. We 
made good progress until 11.00 P. M. AA-hen the truck ahead 
disappeared at a cross-road. We did not knoAv Avhich road to 
take and jumped out to see if Ave could foUoAV the track made 
in the mud, Avhen a voice out of the black night shouted, "for 
God's sake men get that truck to Hell off this cross-road — 
don't you guys knoAv Avhere you are?" We replied, "no," — 

45 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR' 



his ansAver was, "this is Dead Man's Curve." No time was lost 
in scrambling into the truck and away we went right ahead 
taking the chance that this road was the right one. AVe had no 
sooner left the corner when the familiar whizz and screech of 
big shells coming our way was heard. Our hearts came into 
our mouths ; we lived a lifetime until those shells, nine in num- 
ber, landed on the cross-roads. There was a blinding flash, a 
terrific report and the splinters flying through space sounded 
like a number of bees buzzing in the air. The smell of burned 
powder choked us and brought tears to our eyes. These shells 
all burst within two-hundred yards of the truck. It certainly 
was a very close call. 

We learned afterwards that this particular cross-road was 
one of the most dangerous spots in the whole sector. It was 
under continual fire at night from the Boche Artillery and it 
could not be used in the day time as it was under direct obser- 
vation from the German positions on Mont-sec. The road was 
one of the most important arteries of communication along the 
Avhole front. At 3.15 the next morning we stopped on the road. 
Voices were heard out in the nearby field. We ran the gun out 
of the truck, placed it in a vacant gun emplacement and went 
below to the dugouts. We were relieving Battery E of the 6th. 
Field Artillery, first division. They were a fine bunch of fel- 
lows and as we had received our baptism of fire m the Chemin- 
des-Dames sector, they accepted us as their equals although 
there always was an intense feeling against the National Guard 
by the Regular Army. However, we had done things already ; 
they had heard of us and we of them ; and so, ^y\nle there was 
good natured repartee as to our divisional accomplishments, 
they left us the following night with hand-shakes and we 
wished them God-speed. 



46 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

CHAPTER VII 

TouL Sector — Seichprey — Xivray 
"Dead Man's Curve" 

Just as dawn was creeping over the hills along the German 
lines, we were all astir, getting ready for any emergency which 
might arise. We took advantage of the clear day to look over 
our new sector. A brief description of the topography is neces- 
sary to fully understand the dangerous position which the Am- 
erican troops were in at this point. The German positions were 
on high ground all along the entire front, overlooking the al- 
lied trenches. Directly opposite our lines there was a steep hill 
some nine hundred feet in height, named Mont-sec, In the val- 
ley below were several small villages which, later on, became 
historical, Richeeourt, Seieheprey and Xivray-Marvoison. On 
the right, the hill dipped sharply, the base of which was covered 
with shrubbery and small trees and which was known as Remie- 
res Wood. Along the center of the valley was a wide stretch of 
marshy land. Hundreds of French and German troops had been 
drowned in this swamp during the previous years of the war. 
Our lines for several kilometers back, were under direct obser- 
vation from the Germans. On clear days, we were forbidden to 
walk on the roads, as the Olive-drab uniform was easily detect- 
ed on the Avhite surface of the roads and observers were con- 
stantly on the watch within the German lines. The Division took 
over 18 kilometers of front in this sector, by far the largest 
ever held up to this time by U. S. troops. Another peculiar 
fact was the apathetic attitude of the civil population in this 
sector, namely, the people who stayed some kilometers in our 
rear. Treachery Avas in the air day and night. This sector 
Avas full of German agents and spies. Special orders were is- 
sued to us and all were placed on guard, challenging everyone 
at night, both on cross-roads and at points entering our lines. 
The countersign was changed every night and the procedure 
was as follows: Men repairing telephone wires, Avrecked from 

47 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD AVAR" 



shell fire, and runners carrying messages, frequently had to 
pass through one or more points occupied by U. S. troops. At 
4.00 P. M. each day one of these men would proceed to the Infan- 
try P. C (Post of Command) with an order requesting the pass- 
word to be used that night. Only a Major could give this. The 
man would then receive the countersign and check-word. That 
night, chasing his wires or carrying his message, he would sud- 
denly be given the order to halt and there, standing in front of 
him, Avould be an American doughboy with a long shiny bay- 
onet fixed on a loaded rifle, just a few inches from his chin. A 
suspicious move meant his end right there. The guard would 
ask for the counter-sign, then the check-word and if satisfied 
he would allow him to proceed on his way only to be stopped a 
little further on and forced to go through the same process. 
No chances were taken. Colonel or Private, you were just the 
same to the doughboy with the loaded rifle and that long, shiny 
bayonet. 

Our one gun was placed in a far from shell-proof gun-pit 
on the edge of the road leading from Beaumont to Metz (a 
section of the Paris-Metz Highway). Our dugouts were under 
the road with the entrances under the root of a large tree. The 
gun-crew and officers were in similar dugouts — evil, damp holes 
under the ground, that would never dry out. Each dugout had 
several blankets always soaked with water as protection 
against gas. Our Infantry lines were not very far from this 
one-gun position. The support trenches for the Infantry were 
just a hundred and fifty yards in front of the gun. 

We learned that we were what is termed in the French 
Army, A Sacrifice Gun. This name sounded uncanny. There 
was too much mystery to it. We realized that the Boche could 
see the flash from our gun Avhen it fired ; hence the significance 
of "Sacrifice Gun." We were assured, however, that this was 
quite an honor to be picked out to do this particular kind of 
work. Our comrades in the battery were some distance back 
in the Avoods, well sheltered from German observation. Our 
duty consisted chiefly of drawing fire from the enemy, in other 
words, when the day was clear and German planes were in 
plain Aaew, we would receive an order to open fire. The Boche 
planes would make note of the position of the flash and in- 
struct the German Artillery to return the fire on our position. 

48 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



They would direct the fire by wireless. As soon as the first few 
shells would land we would cease fire and if they were landing 
pretty close we would beat it to the dugouts. At other times 
the order would be to stand by the guns and await orders. 
This was a terrible ordeal, a nerve racking experience, this 
openly flirting with death. When you are firing you do not no- 
tice it so much as you do not get time to see what is happening 
around you, but standing there in silence, waiting and listen- 
ing to those shells coming in and exploding, the fragments fly- 
ing through the air and falling around your gun-pit, is an ordeal 
which tries a man's nerve, but there are men who have to go 
even further than this, the men whom every soldier who fought 
in the war admires, the runners, messengers and the linemen of 
the telephone details. 

Communication is the one essential means of conducting 
modern warfare. The telephone is the most reliable as the 
Avires must constantly be kept going. If a bombardment begins, 
the linemen with extra wire, pliers and tape must hold them- 
selves in readiness to start out at any hour of the day or night 
as soon as a wire breaks. They must establish communication 
as soon as possible, shell fire or no shell fire. There is no w^ork 
more dangerous than this as these men have no protection, ex- 
cept to lie flat or .jump to a shell-hole when a shell breaks. 
They never go out alone and if one gets killed, the other carries 
on. If both get killed more men are sent out. Most of these 
men had an utter scorn of death and it was a frequent sight to 
see these men leave the dugouts on their perilous mission, shake 
hands with those who Avere left behind grimly give instructions 
as to the disposition of their personal property and with a smile 
on their faces, pass out into the darkness, many times never to 
return. The hardest part of their work was that they knew 
their chances of meeting a Hun face to face and settling the 
score Avas seldom possible. They didn't even have the chance 
to return the fire. Their job in the Avar Avas to keep communi- 
cation intact. The runners Avere in a similar position. When 
all the Avires Avere gone from shell fire, their job Avas to get 
through the barrages Avith Avritten messages AA^hile the telephone 
men Avere trying to patch up their lines. More casualties oc- 
curred (proportionately) in these tAvo special branches than in. 
any other branch of the service. 

49 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 



Our new home Avas known as "Hell's Half Acre," so in or- 
der to keep up the reputation of the sector we painted a sign 
and hung it over the telephone detail's dugout, announcing to 
the world that our new residence was "Hell's Doorstep." About 
two hundred and fifty meters to the right of our gun position 
was a small French canteen, concealed in the woods, where 
champagne could be purchased for four francs a bottle. As the 
Avater was unfit to drink we did the next best thing at four 
francs a bottle although we have a suspicion that many of the 
sealed champagne bottles contained nothing more than good 
eider. T'was at this position that Ave secured our first mascot, 
a little black and Avhite fox terrier, "avou" by Sergeant Joe 
Rhinehart, and Avhich we named "Bum." Corp William Mc- 
Ginnis and Private John Barmby had a close call in this posi- 
tion. We had a telephone line running doAvn to the infantry 
trenches. It Avas a sealed line and no conversation Avas alloAved 
over it, OAving to the fact that the Germans Avere known to 
place men on outpost duty Avith amplifiers, little instruments 
resembling a dictaphone, to pick up our messages going over 
the wires. For this reason all orders Avere coded. On this line 
Ave just called the other end and used the Avord "check," sim- 
ply to see if the line Avas still in working order or not. There 
came a day Avhen no ansAver Avas heard from the other end, so 
McGinnis and Barmby Avere sent out to fix the line. They had 
never been over these Avires before and as they ran into the in- 
fantry lines it looked like an interesting trip. They reached 
the other end, repaired the damage Avithout anything real ex- 
citing taking place and Avhen about one-third of the Avay back 
the German Artillery opened up. They Avere compelled to lie flat 
OAving to the flying fragments. When the chance came, they 
dived to the trench opposite and Avere forced to stay in the 
trench for over an hour while the Boche shells Avere bursting on 
the ground overhead. 

Late that night the ration cart arrived and Ave learned 
that the remainder of the Battery was in an open field about 
three kilometers to the rear, Avell camouflaged Avith colored 
burlap and chicken Avire, but the dugouts Avere nearly full of 
water. Most of the time Avas spent baling the Avater out with 
tin cans. Before morning arriA^ed Ave Avere eonncted Avith 
each other by telephone. 

50 



WITB. FIGHTING BATTERY C 

We received more gas iron the Germans during our stay 
in this position than at any other point on the Westei'n front, 
OAving to the fact that we were on low lying ground, we were 
good subjects for gas attacks, as the gas would hang close to 
the ground until its strength was expended. April 6th, we 
Avere subjected to a three hour gas attack, our respirators 
being worn during the entire time. 

Poisonous gas Avas the most fiendish invention of the whole 
war and every man had the fear of death by gas embedded in 
his heart. We had been told of its effect by our French com- 
rades. The chlorine was inhaled and entering your lungs would 
form large blisters. In a matter of a few hours the blisters 
would burst, flooding the lungs with Avater and causing a hor- 
rible death from suffocation. Medical skill Avas unable to saA-e 
you. Mustard gas hoAvever, Avas the niost feared. When the 
fumes from this gas came in contact Avith any part oi the body 
a red patch Avould develop. Shortly after, this would break 
and an intense burning of the flesh Avould be noticed and it 
Avould spread and spread, eating the flesh doAvn to the bone. 
If the doctors received your case in time some relief Avas the 
result. If not, you had to lie still and allow this burning to go 
on until it had eaten up its strength. Mere description of the 
sufferings of gas victims cannot be portrayed in Avords. This 
Avas another method of teaching civilization, "German Kultur." 
It is a terrible sensation, sitting in a dugout AA^th gas mask's on, 
AA^hen you don't know Avhether the gas attack is going to last 
for an hour, a day or a AA^eek. All Avater is destroyed and all 
food not preserved in sealed cans has to be buried. You may 
judge for yourself our sentiments during a Gas Party, because, 
as in the previous sector on clear days, Ave only had tAvo 
meals (?). Smoke arising from a dugout meant a fe\r shells 
landing there almost immediately. Our chef-de-Cuisinerie at 
this place Avas Phil. Riley, easily the best can-opener A\'e ever 
had. 

Our first barrage in this sector Avas fired on April 11th. 
AVe cut up an attempt by the Boche to raid our front lines and 
by the time our doughboys got through with him, quite a feAV 
of the raiding party Avere left hanging on the bnrbed Avire. 
Our first casualty occurred on this day, Pvt. James Mahoney 
was gassed. The folloAving morning he avps taken to the hos- 

51 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 



pital. There was considerable talk at this time of moving to 
a new position as we were too much exposed. April 19th. ar- 
rived and we received orders to make preparation to move 
that night. The day was anything but clear. There wan no 
aerial activity, so by nightfall, we were all ready to move. We 
had been in position just fourteen days and it was the woi'st 
fourteen days we had spent for sometime. Arriving in the 
sector all exhausted from the forced hike and receiving very 
little rest because of the fact that we were kept busy all the 
time, not one single regret entered our minds as we thought of 
moving. The new position could not be any worse. We were 
ordered to be in position before daybreak April 20th. After- 
events showed that Battery C especially the first piece and 
telephone detail, came pretty nearly never being heard of 
again, for a few hours later amid a deluge of shells and gas, 
the Battle of Seichprey was under way. 

At 3.00 A. M., April 20th, a murderous German barrage 
commenced. Looking in the direction of the front line trenches 
to try to find out what it all meant, we were suddenly dumb- 
founded to see rockets of all colors shooting up from the front 
line stations. There were red rockets Avith three white stars, 
the barrage signal for the day, and green rockets signifying 
that a gas attack was under way and many others meaning dif- 
ferent things to the men who were on rocket guard. The relay 
stations along the Paris-]\Ietz highway and farther back re- 
peated the signals. The Boehe batteries now began to sweep 
the rear areas as well as the front line positions, with a deadly 
fire. Only a moment after the rocket signals had sent out 
their warning, our Batteries opened up and the Battle of Seich- 
prey was on in full blast. Thousands of gas shells Avere fal- 
ling all around the place and the air was poisoned from their 
deadly odor. It Avas one of the most terrific bombardments of 
gas and high explosive that the Battery had ever been exposed 
to. 

The one gun that had been at the sniping position had al- 
ready left for the neAv location and the three guns that Avere 
further in the rear Avere also on the road to the neAv position 
when the shelling comm.enced. All four guns arriA'ed in the 
neAV position Avithout mishap and immediately prepared for ae- 

52 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

tion and in a very short time were giving back to the Boche 
as good as they were sending. 

The only men left at the old sniping position were Corps. 
David Yule and Frank Killeiea who had charge of taking down 
the switchboard, Corp. Edward D. Sirois, who Avas in charge 
of moving all the equipment to the new position and Cooks 
Joseph Rinehart and Philip Riley who were looking after the 
kitchen supplies. All these men had orders to remain here un- 
til they v/ere relieved. Just before the bombardment com- 
menced, a park wagon in charge of Corp. George Rainville, 
with Frank Payson, Melvin Hubbard, Mike Bolawsky and 
Dominick Palosky for drivers, arrived from the new position 
where they had tal^en a load of equipment and were preparing 
to return for another load. The wagon was about half loaded 
when the battle started and it was impossible for them to move 
on. The horses were unhitched and tied to the wheels with 
gas masks on. The men then retired to the Captain's dugout, 
thinking that the straffing would die down sooner or later. 
As time passed by, however, the shelling became more intense 
and the gas much thicker. Daylight came and the Boche ob- 
servation balloons went up and the planes became very active. 
It then became necessary to act, because as soon as it became 
broad daylight the wagon on the road would be seen by the 
Huns and probably be blov/n to pieces. Corp. Rainville then 
gave orders to the drivers to hitch up and take the gas masks 
off the horses. This was ciuickly accomplished with the aid of 
the men at the position and the drivers mounted with their 
own gas masks on. Corp. Rainville then gave the order to 
start and the Park wagon galloped down the Paris-Metz high- 
way towards Beaumont. How they ever got down that road, 
over Dead Man's Curve and past Hell's Half Acre without all 
being killed is a mystery that no one can explain, because every 
foot of that road Avas under a concentrated artillery fire. How- 
ever they accomplished it and it certainly was a Avonderful feat 
of daring and boldness. 

About 8.00 A. M. the other men at the position received 
orders to abandon the sniping post and report to the new posi- 
tion. Their experiences during the two kilometer hike from 
the old to the ne^v position with every foot under bombardment 
and the air thick Avith gas is something that is beyond descrip- 

53 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 

tion. They were detained for over an hour in Beaumont, owing 
to the fact that the shelling was so heavy that they were not 
able to leave the village. 

The rest of the boys at the new position were having their 
own troubles also. The entire place was under a constant 
shelling and the gas was so thick that one could almost cut it 
with a knife. One shell was a direct hit on the first section 
:gun pit, but luckily it did but very little damage and no casual- 
lies were sustained. 

The German heavy artillery came into play and swept all 
the rear areas. All roads were blocked, and our front line was 
kept under a constant fire. 

The attack began without any warning at a time Avhen the 
Infantry was changing reliefs and many of the Batteries chang- 
ing positions. It was entirely unexpected by us. Twelve hun- 
dred picked German Shock Troops (Hindenburgs traveling 
Circus, as we called them) came over the top and advanced 
towards our lines to teach the Yankees a lesson. The attack 
extended along a front of four kilometers. Our troops held 
them in the center, but on the left the Huns were able to pen- 
etrate our lines by infiltration as the French call it, that is a 
gradual progress in small groups, supported by machine guns 
and automatic rifles. Their object was to get possession of the 
town of Seichprey, a small town on the very front lines, held 
by our troops, as this was a decided advantage to the side hold- 
ing it. They also wanted to gain possession of the Remieres 
woods A^'hich was a short distance behind our lines. They were 
partially successful in this and about 8.00 A. M. the attack 
on the town of Seichprey itself began. Heavy hand to hand 
fighting occurred in the streets of the village and by 10.00 A. ]\I. 
our forces had retired a few hundred meters back to the line 
of resistance. Here they consolidated their forces and at about 
11.00 A. M. attacked, with support from the French. They 
were so determined that they drove the Boche out of the vil- 
lage of Seichprey back into their own lines and followed them 
up for a considerable distance. By 1.00 o'clock noon, the Am- 
ericans were once again in full possession of Seichprey and 
holding the German front lines to boot. The Boche had con- 
cealed their machine guns in the trees, thus causing our men a 
great deal of trouble in locating them, but our snipers stalked 

54 




Top : Lt. Edward D. Sirois, then Corp. all set for a mustard 
g-as attack, Toul Sector; Center Left: Officers figuring data 
and conducting fire; Center Right: Corp. William McGinnis, 
chasing up broken telephone line, notice the mud, typical of France; 
Bottom: Mus. Arthur Morin, firing on Boche aeroplane, Battery 
C's position, Toul Sector, notice the dugouts on left and right cov- 
ered with sand bags and camouflage. Photos taken by authors. 



WITH FIGHTING BATTEKY C 



their prey in good old Yankee fashion and put an end to them. 
The Germans had tried our division out, with picked German. 
Shock troops, in the hope of breaking their morale, but thej 
had found their match. Instead of gaining a big victory as 
they had expected to, they had gone down to a terrible defeat. 
They had gained nothing and lost a great deal. They had 
found their betters in the Americans. 

Although the Huns had been driven back, the German 
artillery remained very active all the rest of the day and night 
and kept the front, the roads and the back areas under a heavy 
fire. It was noon on the twenty-first before things quieted 
■down. 

During the course of the battle, several and in fact all the 
Batteries ran out of ammunition. One of the Officers of Bat- 
tery C asked for volunteers to drive caissons of ammunition to 
the positions and especially to Battery G at Dead Man's Curve. 
Every man in Battery C who was at the Echelon volunteered 
for this service and a number were picked out. With loaded 
caissons and horses galloping, away they went. Many of them 
Avere wounded on this trip. One young fellow, Vincent Polito, 
had two horses killed under him trying to get the ammunition 
up. The following men received the Croix-de-Guerre for cour- 
age and daring during the fight, Corp. Harold McDonald, Pvt. 
Vincent Polito, Dominick Palosky. 

Another detachment from the Battery was manning four 
guns of an old type (the French 90). This battery was kno"\\Ti 
as G Battery. They Avere situated right at the corner of Dead 
IMan's Curve and Sgt. Edward O'Leary was first Sgt. Corp. 
Timothy J. Barry and Pvt. Fred Hurrell also received the 
Croix-de-Guerre, for sticking by their post when the gun was 
blown up and Sgt. Killelea and Corp. David Yule received 
Divisional citations for repairing telephone wires during the 
engagement. Corp. Rainville in charge of the Park wagon and 
the men with him who had galloped back to the Echelon along 
a shell sAvept road in broad daylight, should have received 
some Avord of commendation from the authorities, but no men- 
tion Avas made of their deed. 

We learned the folloAAdng night that the situation Avas 
much Avorse than Ave had imagined. All the horses and limbers 

55 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

were ready at the Echelon, to come up and take the guns back, 
if the worst came to the worst. 

This was the first major operation in which American 
troops had participated and our French comrades commended 
the division highly for the excellent manner in which the situa- 
tion had been handled. 

After this engagement, orders were issued to place barbed 
wire and to construct hand grenade pits in front of our guns, 
in order to protect ourselves against attack at close quarters. 
We strengthened our dugouts with steel rails, concrete blocks, 
sand bags and huge logs of wood. All this was covered with 
camouflage. Two guns were situated on the edge of the Paris- 
Metz road, in an open field, between Beaumont and Rambou- 
court, with no natural protection. They were the first and sec- 
ond sections and half of the telephone detail. This became 
known as the forward position. The third and fourth sections^ 
were in the woods, behind us. This was known as the rear 
position, nicknamed ''Canobie Lake," owing to the fact that 
a large pond was near the guns, and that a shell had never 
landed anyAvhere near the position up to this time. The men 
at this position used to sleep outside during the night under 
the camouflage. The dugouts at this place were very uncom- 
fortable and most of the time Avas spent baling water out and 
trying to make them fit places to live in. Needless to say the 
men at the forward position were unable to follow their ex- 
ample as far as sleeping was concerned because had they done 
so, they would be sleeping the eternal sleep, Avith poppies grow- 
ing overhead. 

The only communication with the Echelon where the bat- 
tery office was situated, was the little ration cart, draAvn by 
a single mule. This would arrive every night, about 10.30 or 
11.00 unless the roads were being heavily shelled. It was the 
one big event in our lives and we Avould all croAvd around, 
looking for mail. The letters would all be tied in a bundle, 
then rushed to the nearest dugout and with the aid of a candle 
stuck on the top of a steel helmet the addresses would be called 
off and five or six fonns Avould huddle around the single can- 
dle to read their letters. They were truly happy days — the 
days when mail arrived from God's Country. 

When the Huns would let us alone for a few hours, the- 

56 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



rnmor Vvould gain circulation that Fritz was out of ammunition 
and just as we Avere beginning to believe it, he would shower 
us with steel and iron confetti. It was just one thing after 
another. 

While in this sector, we were surprised one afternoon with 
a number of extraordinary large shells coming over from the 
German lines. The explosion resembled a mine going off. 
AVhen the fire quieted down and we started investigating, we 
found a dud and imagine our consternation upon looking at 
the brass fuse head to see in perfect plain type — MADE IN 
BRIDGEPORT CONNECTICUT U. S. A. We were amazed. 
A few days later, the mystery was solved. These shells were 
made for the Russian government during the early days of the 
war. The caliber of the gun was 308 milimeters. All these 
guns, with the ammunition, were captured by the Huns when 
the Russian Campaign collapsed and they were using them on 
us. It was anything but pleasant to contemplate the damage 
that was being done by this ammunition, made by our own 
countrymen, but such are the fortunes or misfortunes of war. 

The need of officers thoroughly trained in artillery tactics 
at this time was so great that opportunities Avere given to 
enlisted men qualified to attend an Artillery Officers Training 
School at Saumur. We sent two men while in this sector, 
Corp. David Yule and Pvt. John L. Ferguson. Sgt. John J. 
McCarthy and Corp. EdAvard D. Sirois were sent to a Non- 
commissioned officers school at Gondrecourt, to receive exten- 
sive training in the finer points of artillery firing and gunnery. 

Many sad and hum.orous incidents were Avitnessed while 
doing duty at this position. We saAv Major Raoul Lufberry, 
the American Ace, Avho had fought many engagements in the 
Lafayette Escadrille, shot doAAai by a Hun aviator in an aerial 
combat, over our gun position. We saAV the fight and saw Luf- 
berry come doAA'n, his plane a mass of flames. We also saAV 
Lt. Hall another American Ace, take his final trip over the 
Hun lines. He Avas shot doAvn by the enemy and as his plane 
hit the ground both his legs Avere broken and he Avas taken 
prisoner. 

Our battery suffered tAvo casualties in this position. Pvt. 
SAvanson receiA^ed a wound in the right thigh one night by a 
shell splinter AA^hile AAaiting for the ration cart to return to the 

57 



SMASHING THROUGH TliE "WORLD WAR" 

Echelon. Pvt. S^\•ee^ey was also hit while -working in the gain, 
pit. 

A very amusing incident occurred one afternoon, which we 
will never forget. It was a beautiful day and things were 
very quiet, Sgt. Killelea and Corp. McGinnis, had been out 
repairing wires the night before. They were sound asleep when 
a 13oche battery opened up. The third shell to land was a 210 
gas shell and was a direct hit on the telephone dugout and the 
concussion awakened both men from their slumber. Earth was 
falling on the floor of the dugout from the roof, and inside the 
air was full of gas. We all put on our gas masks, dropped the 
gas blanket at the door and sat there waiting for the supposed 
gas attack to blow over. Not another shell came in while we 
were sitting in the darkness. The familiar voice of Phil Riley 
Avas heard outside — Now Ave all knew Phil and we also knew 
that if there was a sign of gas around Phil would have his gas 
mask on. We could not understand why the air in the dugout 
was so full of gas and how Phil could be talking outside. We 
made an investigation and this was the result. The nose of 
the gas shell had penetrated the wall forming the foundation 
of the dugout. AVhen the gas escaped from the shell, it natural- 
ly filled the dugout and with the heavy wet blanket down at 
the entrance, it could not get out. We hastily thrcAv the blan- 
ket up and allowed the air to circulate inside. That was one 
time that the Huns put one over on us. To get an idea of the 
size of the hole made by this shell, it required thirty-seven 
sandbags, full of earth, to fill it in. 

May 25th Elsie Janis, the famous American actress and 
the idol of the boys in France, came to Sanzy, where our Eche- 
lon was situated and gave an entertainment; also the Herron 
sisters and they, too, gave a Avonderful show. They were the 
first American girls we had seen since we left the States. 

This Avas considered a quiet sector, but even granting that, 
it Avas not quite so pleasant as liAdng in LaAvrence. 

June 16th the Xivray-Marvoisin party began. The Boche 
tried much the same tactics, as in the battle of Seichprey and 
he also learned that aa'c Avere fully capable of taking care of 
ourselves in any emergency. As if to retaliate for the defeat 
AA'hich they had suffered during this engagement, their long 
range guns shelled all the toAvns and villages behind the lines. 

58 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

Hundreds of civilians, soldiers and horses "were injured and 
killed during this bombardment which lasted about two days. 

About this time news was circulated that we were to be 
relieved. This fact was strengthened by the arrival of a num- 
ber of French and American officers from new divisions, Avho 
were looking over our gun positions. Their Infantry were to 
relieve ours, but they were to be supported by French Artillery. 

While on this sector. Captain Daniels carried out much 
the same policy as he had at Chemin-des-Dames. The men at 
the battery position were relieved every so often by other men 
from the Echelon. This gave every man a chance to serve both 
at the guns and the Echelon. It was a good stunt as it gave 
the men who had been at the position for sometime a chance to 
be relieved of the strain ancl in this way everybody learned 
the duties at the position and at the Echelon. The best effi- 
ciency was attained in this manner. 

June 27th at 10.00 P. M. the horses and limbers arrived 
from the Echelon to take the guns to the rear. We were re- 
lieved by the 82nd U. S. Division and the 154th French. It 
was a moonlight night and Ave A^'ondered whether we would 
get out safely, this night above all nights. The whole Battery 
w^as moved without a single shell coming in. We arrived at 
Sanzy at daybreak. Once more we were informed that we 
were to proceed to that mysterious place known as a rest camp. 

While on the Toul sector we received many citations. At 
the time of our relief on this sector General Passaga, French 
Commander issued a general order in which he said. 

"At the moment when the 26th Division of the United 
States is leaving the 32nd. French Corps, I salute its colors and 
thank it for the splendid services it has rendered here to the 
common cause. 

"Under the distinguished command of their chief, General 
Edwards, the high spirited soldiers of the Yankee Division, 
have taught the enemy some bitter lessons, at Bois Brule, at 
Seiehprey, at Xivray-Marvoisin ; they have taught him to re- 
alize the staunch vigor of the sons of the great Republic fight- 
ing for the World's Freedom. 

^"My heartiest good wishes will accompany the Yankee 
Division always in its future combats." 

General Passaga. 

59 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''AVORLD AVAR" 

CHAPTER VIII 

Off For a Rest Camp (?) 

It was a popular superstition among the fighting divisions 
of the A. E. F. that, somewhere in France, there was a myste- 
rious place designated, ''A REST CAMP." However, after 
eighteen months continuous service in France, the Yankee Divi- 
sion never disco vei-ed the place or the individual who was res- 
ponsible for the belief that such a place existed. Had they 
done so, this book would have been made interesting by a 
chapter depicting scenes and life at the camp. This may also 
be said of the 1st, 2nd and 42nd divisions. We do not deny 
that somewhere in France such a place or places, did exist, but 
we do insist, that it was never the good fortune of the 26th. 
to find it. AVe were in several places supposed to be rest camps, 
but more work was done in these places in one week than we 
would have accomplished in a month at the front. 

Our stay at Sanzy was of very short duration. Most of 
the time Avas spent getting ready for the contemplated journey 
to "SOMEWHERE." What a terrible strain was removed 
from the minds of the men when they knew that they were 
going to some other place. It might be Russia, Greece, Belgium, 
or again it might only be twenty-five miles away, yet it meant 
just the same thing. The air of mystery surrounding our move- 
ments made it real fascinating and we never hit the place 
where the majority said we Avould. We were like a caravan of 
gypsies, here to-day, away to-morrow. 

We were still quite close to the front, so that hiking at 
night was made necessary. From sunset June 28th. to sunrise 
June 29th., we hiked twenty-two kilometers. After a rest 
during the day we continued on the following night, arriving 
at Yalcoullers, at 3.00 A. M. the next morning. Here we 
boarded the train and were off. During a stop at a large sta- 
tion, several troop trains passed through one of them contain- 
ing Company F, of the 101st. Infantry, of Lawrence. July 1st. 
at 4.00 A. ]\r. we arrived in a town named Dammavtin, here 
everything seemed strange. We saw buildings that had never 

60 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

seen the hand of war; green fields stretched out as far as the 
eye could see. It was hard to realize, that a short distance 
from this same spot, men were flying at each others throats 
and that death was stalking everywhere. The men entered 
into the spirit of their new environment. We imagined that if 
our stay here lasted more than a week, we could forget that a 
war was going on. However, this privilege was not to be ours. 

That evening at 6.00 P. M. after a march of seventeen 
kilometers, we arrived in the village of Chalifret. Many of 
the boys secured places to sleep with the civil population, this 
being allowed providing all bugle calls were answered. Beds 
could be rented for one franc a night. Many of the older peo- 
ple refused to take money. This was a beautiful village and 
here the regiment spent their first and only Fourth of July in 
France. We were in a small village thirty kilometers from 
Paris. We were told that this was the long sought, ''REST 
CAjMP" and it was a wonderful selection, amid shady trees and 
green fields. We planned on washing our dirty clothes and on 
a general clean-up, getting a much needed rest and allowing 
the horses a chance to roam among the grass and recuperate. 
Ball teams and athletic events were arranged between the Bat- 
teries. Little did we realize that in this quiet peaceful village 
and while we were making plans for the future, couriers were 
then on their way from G. H. Q. (General Headquarters) with 
orders for the 26th. to move at once. Our dinner July 4th, 
was much the same as usual. In the afternoon groups of men 
were out in the fields enjoying themselves, when bugles began 
to blow, without any warning, the assembly. At 7.00 P. M. we 
were on our way again. All men not needed to bring the guns 
and caissons were loaded into trucks and we started off again 
for "somewhere." Songs were started and the "Singing Bat- 
tery, ' ' Avas on the move once more. We passed through Meaux 
at 9.00 P. M. and reached the village of St.Cyr. In the dis- 
tance the boom of guns was heard again. Gathering in the 
streets Avas forbidden as the Huns made it a practice to bomb 
this village with aeroplanes. We sought the shelter of nearby 
trees and slept on the ground for the night. The horses and 
guns were drawn up under the spreading branches and care- 
fully concealed. 

Daybreak found us busy as usual. A rumor gained circu- 

61 



SMASHING THROUGIi THE "WORLD WAR" 



lation that the Boche were massing troops for a drive in this, 
sector and that Ave were to relieve the 2nd. U. S. Division. That 
morning, Capt. Daniels with the telephone detail, started for 
the front to select a battery position and to take over the tel- 
ephone system of the battery whom we were to relieve. The 
trip was made in broad daylight and if the doubt ever existed 
in our minds regarding the truth of the German drive, it Avas 
silenced forever. Before our truck had travelled half the dis- 
tance to the front, hundreds of farmers, villagers and peasant 
folk were on their way to the rear, with goods and chattels, 
piled on every conceivable conveyance, drawn by horses, dogs, 
oxen, and pulled and pushed by hand. Cattle and spave horses. 
Avere hitched to the backs of the teams. Children of tender 
years were on top oi the loaded carts. Old men and women, 
with the aid of sticks Avere hobbling along, Avith an expression, 
of fear registered on their features. Th.ey Avei'e fleeing before 
the promoters of Hun Kultur and Ave Avere on our Avay to meet 
them. They Avere trying to seek safety in the environs of Paris, 
having abandoned everything except AA'hat they could carry 
with them. As far as the eye could see, all along the winding 
roads, people Avere coming in our direction, to escape the ter- 
ror of the Hun. The very young and the very old Avere there; 
also young mothers, Avith babes in their arms ; also the mothers 
to be, compelled to Avalk. It Avas pathetic and as Ave saAv these 
harmless civilians and thought of the indignities AA-hich they 
had suffered, the knoAvledge came to us that in a fcAV hours 
Ave would be able to wreak vengeance on these despoilers of 
virtue and the beautiful things in life — the things that make 
life Avorth liAdng for. 

A good many critics of the late Avar Avho Avere never nearer 
the firing line than Ncav York or Boston, have stated that the 
element of hate should never enter the soldiers mind, that he 
should think of the lofty ideals Avhich brought the American 
Army to France. We ask those critics to stand by the road- 
side and Avatch this procession leaving the homes of their birth, 
the homes in AA^hich they had been raised from childhood, in 
AA'hich they had been married and in AA^hich they had spent the 
declining years of their life. All this Avas noAV torn apart. The 
high salaried critics. Avith their floAvery phrases, Avere not fight- 
ing the Avar — Ave Avere — so Ave made uj) our minds that every 

62 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



Hun Avho came within range of our rifles and guns would pay 
with full measure and all the hate that we could put behind 
those guns would go with them. 

The telephone detail which had gone ahead to reconnoiter 
the new position arrived at the crest of a hill in broad daylight 
and with all their trappings and equipment reached a farm 
house \Aiiere men from the 2nd. Division were running a tele- 
phone central. The owners of the farm had to leave without 
notice. Later in the afternoon, they walked through the wheat 
fields until they came to a small woods where Battery C, of the 
15th. Field artillery was doing business. 

There was quite a difference in this method of Avarfare. In 
the Toul sector, we had gun emplacements and dugouts, but 
they were not in existence here. This was our introduction, 
to open warfare, although it was not quite so ''open" as we ex- 
perienced four weeks later. We were to take over this posi- 
tion, telephone wires included and make preparations for in- 
mediate occupancy. We knew that the Germans were mas- 
sing troops for an attack somewhere in this section, but just 
where, none could tell. The following night, orders were 
changed again. Our division was ordered to go in to the as- 
sistance of the French near the river Ourcq. The telephone 
detail received orders that night to pack up and return to the 
Battery, which was already on the move but in which direction 
they did not know. They were all bundled into a truck and 
started for St. Cyr where they had left the rest of the battery 
less than forty-eight hours before. Unknown to the Captain 
and the telephone detail, the remainder of the battery had re- 
ceived orders to move to a new sector. The telephone detail 
were following the route on a map. It was pitch dark and 
lights were forbidden. After traveling about four hours they 
discovered their first clue, a horse was lying dead by the side 
of the road. It was an American horse, a fact that they could 
easily tell by the long mane and tail and also the general con- 
dition of the animal. Upon examining the brand, burned on 
the hind quarters they found 102nd. F. A. They knew then 
that the regiment M^as not far away as the horse was still warm 
and the road was covered with imprints from horse shoes, and 
empty Bull-Durham bags. At 8.00 A. M. they arrived at regi- 
mental headquarters situated in a magnificent chateau owned 

63 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD ^YAR' 



by one of the scions of an old French family who was at the 
front. The battery was billeted in the stables, a very neat and 
spacious set of buildings. The same day part of the telephone 
detail and the first and second gun sections proceeded to the 
village of Vendrest where the guns were placed in position. 
Thousands of French Colonial troops passed through this vil- 
lage on the way to the trenches. The 4th. U. S. Division In- 
fantry, was also in this sector. The contemplated attack did 
not materialize, at this time. Our division was now ordered 
to the relief of the second division, at Chateau-Thierry. The or- 
der was changed three different times, while hiking, but we 
finally got there and relieved Battery C, 15th. F. A. 2nd. Divi- 
sion. We were in this position until the advance on July 18th. 
or the counter-attack on the German offensive which Avill go 
down in history as the turning point of the whole war. 

This was the Allies' answer to the Huge German Offensive 
which was to bring the Kaiser into Paris. Picked troops of the 
German Army had new uniforms all ready, for the "Trium- 
phant entry" into the city. Most of our work here was done 
at night, firing incessantly harrassing fire, to prevent concen- 
tration of German troops. Our guns were laid on the village 
of Vaux and hill 204. We also sent out a roving piece at night 
— that is, a gun detached from a battery, for special firing and 
which usually operates bet^^'een sunset and sunrise. Their 
work was to enter a field or stay on the edge of a road and fire 
all night into the Boche lines and return to their former posi- 
tions before daybreak, in this manner they Avould attract fire 
from the enemy, but of course they had departed before the 
incoming fire arrived. While the Germans were trying to 
neutralize the supposed new battery, special observers from 
the aviation service and terrain observers were on the lookout 
for the Hun Battery. This method was followed by the Ger- 
mans also. Battery C, alone fired over tAventy-seven thousand 
rounds of ammunition during our stay of ten days here. Thus 
ended our experience at an American Rest Camp in France. 
Surely it was one that we will always remember. 



64 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



CHAPTER IX 

The Chateau-Thierry Drive Or The Second 
Battle Of The Marne 

At the time when we left the Borders of Lorraine we were 
considered a first class division, equally as good as any division 
of the Allied Armies. There were four American divisions up 
to this time, which had been doing the greater part of the fight- 
ing of the American Army in France,— the 1st and 2nd regular 
army divisions and the 26th and 42nd National Guard divi- 
sions. These were, at this time, the only American divisions 
which were classified as first class divisions. All were so near 
equal in accomplishments and achievements that no practical 
distinction could be made between them. Prior to the begin- 
ning of The Second Battle of the Marne, these four divisions 
were designated, the "shock divisions," of the American Army, 
that is the troops who were considered the best trained and 
Avhose ability and metal had been proven in both offensive and 
defensive warfare, troops who could and would be used in all 
emergencies at short notice, troops who, in case of an enemy 
drive, would be placed to stem and break up the advance and 
who, when their own side was waging an offensive would be 
placed at vital points. Hence, at the opening of The Second 
Battle of the Marne, all four divisions held vital points on the 
salient. 

The 26th division held the sector about eight kilometers 
northwest of Chateau-Thierry directly on the line running from 
Vaux-Bouresches to Bois-de-Belleau. At this time we were a 
part of the 1st. American Army Corps. This was the first time 
that an American Army Corps appeared at the front to operate 
as a unit under a single Corps Commander. It was also the 
first major operation that American troops participated in and 
the ''Yankee Division," held the post of Honor. 

July 18th came and it was on this memorable date that 
we arrived at our new position away up forward, at 2.45 A. M. 
amid a drenching rain, preparatory to attacking. The guns 
were quickly laid (pointed in the direction of the enemy mth 

65 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 



the proper data) and everything set for firing. The telephone 
lines had been installed the previous day. As this was never 
used as a position before, we had to cut our way into the woods 
and establish our own gun emplacements. There were no dug- 
outs or protection of any kind and the Boche persisted in drop- 
ping big shells (210's and 308 's) all around the position, much 
to our annoyance. We were now well accustomed to shell fire 
and gas and did not worry much unless they coasted them a 
little too near for comfort. 

On account of the peculiarity of the line here, the right of 
the division of which we formed a part, could not move until 
the left had attacked and advanced far enough to straighten 
the line at this point. Hence we did a great deal of firing on 
the opening day of the Drive and 'waited patiently for our pals 
on the left to drive in and straighten out the crooked line. 

The first day the villages of Torcy, Givry, Belleau and Hill 
193, were taken, together with a large number of prisoners 
machine guns and material. July 19th our Echelon moved 
from a position five kilometers in the rear to Avithin 300 meters 
of the battery position, so that they Avould be able to advance 
Avith us Avhen the time came. 

Capt. Roy A. Daniels and Sgt. William F. AVeinhold had 
been notified in the Toul Sector to hold themselves in readiness 
for embarkation to the United States Avhere the Government 
intended to use them as instructors for a new division just 
being formed. They received orders the day before, that they 
Avould leave on July 20th. At 10.00 A. M. that morning after 
shaking hands and bidding farcAvell to every man in the Bat- 
tery, they left us Avith the deepest of regrets that they could 
not take part in the offensive. 

First Lt. William F. HoAve Jr., the idol of CA^ery man in 
the Battery, who later became known as the "Fighting Skipper 
of the Fighting Battery" and who Avas the next officer in com- 
mand, noAv assumed command of the battery. Lt. HoAve had 
not been in command tAVO hours Avhen an incident occurred 
AA^hich Avill serve to shoAV the type of man he Avas. A Boche 
plane came OA'er our lines flying just above the tree tops, so 
loAv, that the anti air-craft guns could not fire at it. Lt. Howe, 
running to the tree where his pistol Avas hanging, ordered the 
men to get their pistols and folloAv him. We all did so, but 

66 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



by the time we got out of the woods the plane was our of pistol 
range. Lt. Howe was so mad for a minute, seeing he did not 
get a chance to get a shot at the plane, that he felt like running- 
after it. In this offensive and in all our other engagements 
Battery C had one of the smallest casualty lists of any similar 
unit in the division. To Lt. Howe soon to be Captain Howe, is 
due all the credit for this. His judgment in picking po.sitions 
and his personal interest in the men under his command were 
the chief reasons for our small casualties. Our "Skipper" 
would never send a man where he would not go himself, but 
any man who would go every place that Capt. Howe went 
Avould certainly have to possess a charmed life. He was always 
in the thickest of it and nothing worried him for a second. The 
more action there was the better he liked it. Nothing would 
have pleased him better than to have the four guns of Battery 
C in the front line Infantry trenches. When we went hungry 
our skipper went hungry ; vrhen we went without sleep, he went 
without sleep and sorry to say when we had cooties he had the 
cooties. He never smoked anything but Bull Durham and roll- 
ed his own. He never got sore when he looked over his supply 
and found out that the boys had been helping themselves. One 
of his favorite stunts, when there was no food in sight for 
breakfast, was to pick up a sack of Bull Durham, take out a 
wheat straw paper and say, ''Well, let's have breakfast." This 
sort of thing put the men in the best of spirits because when 
they saw their Captain go without and do no grumbling, they 
could hardly do anything but follow his example. Every man 
in Battery C, without exception, would go through HELL for 
Bill Howe. 

On July 20th the line had been straightened out and at 1.30 
P. M. we began a harrassing fire that must have made the Huns 
think that we intended to do something. This continued with 
C. P. O.'s (counter preparation offensive) until 3.45 P. M. We 
then began a special barrage and the Infantry went over the 
top. For the benefit of those who are rather uncertain about 
the meaning of the word barrage it might be well to explain 
that a barrage is a curtain of fire and flying metal laid down 
by the Artillery in front of the Infantry for Offensive or De- 
fensive purposes. There are a great many methods of fire call- 
ed barrages, but in reality there are only three : a normal bar- 

67 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

rage used in defensive warfare, to protect our infantry against 
an advancing enemy; a rolling or creeping barrage which is 
used in offensive warfare and is laid down in front of our in- 
fantry which moves forward as the fire advances; and a box 
barrage used in offensive warfare. This latter is just what the 
name implies, a Avail of bursting shells laid down in the form of 
a square encircling a toAvn, village, battery or other place where 
troops are concentrated. The square, inside, is then raked and 
combed with high explosive shrapnel and gas. It is impossible 
for anyone to get out of it. The origin of the phrase, "a bat- 
tery located is a battery lost," may be determined from this, 
because if a battery should be located, a box barrage would be 
the result. This emphasizes the necessity for perfect camou- 
flage and skill in selecting battery positions. 

AVe were ordered early in the evening to make our packs 
and prepare for a move. There was no sleeping this night as 
we fired continuously through the long hours until daylight. 
The order, however, did not arrive, but we remained prepared. 
On the morning of the 21st the enemy evacuated Vaux and Bel- 
leau Woods. At five A. M. our entire Brigade laid down a box 
barrage on Hill 204, a stragetical point between Chateau Thi- 
erry and Vaux which overlooked our positions. After the bar- 
rage lifted, our infantry swept over the hill and cleared it at 
the point of the bayonet. Chateau Thierry was evacuated by 
the Huns about 10.00 A. M. This same morning the entire line 
pushed forAvard and here both the French and American cav- 
alry came into their OAvn and performed excellent service in 
scattering the retreating Boche and rounding up prisoners. 
From this time on until the end of the drive, trench warfare 
passed out of existence and the most open kind of M^arfare took 
its place. This was where the Americans showed their skill, 
because all our regular and National Guard troops Avere Avell 
trained in this method of open Avarfare, it being the basis of 
all our instruction before our entrance into this war and Ave 
could and did shoAv the Boche a Yankee trick or tAvo in this 
line. 

By 9.00 A. M. on the morning of the 21st, our infantry had 
penetrated the Bouresches Wood and the Artillery, now being 
out of range, hauled their guns out of position and prepared to 
advance. By noon the first Avave of the infantry had gained 

68 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

all their objectives and were occupying the Chateau Thierry- 
Soissons Road. 

At 10.00 A. M. the first battalion of the 102d F. A. was on 
the move, with Battery C leading the column. We gained the 
Paris-Metz Highway and proceeded along this through Vaux 
and over Hill 204. Regardless of the fact that the past three 
weeks had been very strenuous and exhausting and that we had 
been working day and night in the rain which persisted in fall- 
ing in torrents and that we were in mud knee-deep with very 
little food, catching sleep whenever we could, every man was in 
the best of spirits, and the cry that went around Avas, ''Let's 
shag them all the way to Berlin." This was a wonderful day, 
the day that we had been faithfully training for, for over a 
year. For the first time we had a chance to see on the spot, the 
effect of our own fire and as Ave advanced over places on which 
we had been firing on it was an inspiring sight to see the dam- 
age which our shells had done. Vaux Avas levelled to the 
ground. The magnificent Paris-Metz HighAvay was ruined. 
Hardly a spot was visible that had not been blown up by our 
shells or by mines exploded by the Germans as they retreated. 
The once tall, stately poplars, that lined the road, were noAV 
nothing but naked, ugly stumps. Hill 204 reminded one of a 
giant honey-comb, simply a mass of shell craters. Ambulances 
were shooting along the roads in both directions, coming from 
up forward carrying their precious burdens to the rear, and 
others going from the rear to the front for another load. 
Stretched out all over the ground were grim, silent figures, who 
had given their lives and who would never again see God's 
daylight and breathe the pure air of Peace. There were hordes 
of Germans, many French and altogether too many silent forms 
wearing the Olive-drab, our OAvn valient, precious, heroic pals. 
As Ave looked at these sights, our eyes for a moment were mist- 
ed Avith tears and Ave Avondered if some day we ourselves would 
be stretched out in such a maimer. There were some ghastly 
sights but only for a moment did such thoughts occupy our 
minds, as the convictions spread over us of our duty to our 
country, our Allies, our mothers, Avlves, sAveethearts and to our 
brave comrades who but yesterday were full of life, a part of 
the smiling, joking, never-fearing American Army. We once 
again, silently but fervently and for all time, took the oath 

69 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 



never to rest, never to give up, until the cause for which our 
brave pals had died, should be fittingly brought to a close. 
Droves of prisoners passed us on their Avay to the rear and a sad 
looking lot they were and they got no mercy from us. Manj 
"wounded men also sat by the roadside, smiling and patiently 
"waiting, while their more seriously wounded pals had been 
taken to the rear, for their turn to come. They forgot their 
pains and injuries, wishing us God-speed and the best o' luck, 
making such remarks as, "Give them Hell, Buddies and Don't 

stop until you get the in Berlin." This was the spirit 

that won the war, the spirit of '76, of 1812, of '61, of '98, born 
again and now the spirit of 1918. 

Mastery of the air was an absolute necessity to safeguard 
and keep secret the movements of the troops. At this time 
about fifty Allied aeroplanes dotted the sky, and seventeen al- 
lied observation balloons were up in our sector alone. Not one 
single Boche plane appeared and as soon as a Hun balloon at- 
tempted to reach the sky, our planes went after it. 

About 4.00 P. M., after an advance of five kilometers, Ave 
pulled into a wood, had our first meal for this day and awaited 
darkness before we would attempt to proceed. While resting 
we had an opportunity to make individual observations. We 
were staggered by the amount of equipment, ammunition, ma- 
terial and supplies that the Boche had left behind. They cer- 
tainly were traveling light but they needed to, for the Yanks 
were on their heels. There were Hun rifles and machine guns 
with ammunition galore for them. We had a lot of sport with 
these and from the way the boys were picking off targets at 
the expense of the Hun, it looked as though they would all be- 
come experts very soon. We had a large quantity of souvenirs, 
but did not carry them long for in a few days we were lucky 
to have our own pistols and blankets. That night we resumed 
the advance and hiked steadily until 3.30 A. M., July 22nd, 
when we immediately went into position near Trugny. The 
guns were in position by 5.00 A. M. The telephone detail had 
communication established within an hour. The battery was 
then ready to open fire. Our Echelon had moved up to within 
two kilometers of the guns, but up to this time as no rations 
had been sent to us, we dug in to our emergency rations. 

The line at this point had a very peculiar formation. Just 

70 




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WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

to our left it extended back for about two kilometers. This 
put us 111 a small salient. A German observation balloon was 
up when we pulled into this position and our movements must 
have been observed, for at 8.00 A. M. a Boche battery that was 
m the section jutting into our line, opened up on our position 
and we received a bad straffing. Our first impression was that 
-the French in our rear were falling short, but after a careful 
inspection we found that the shells dropping on us were Ger- 
man 77 's. This fact was reported to our Battalion Commander 
by runner, all telephone lines having been wrecked by the ene- 
my shell fire. We immediately jumped to the conclusion that 
we_ were trapped and had walked into an ambush. It looked 
as if we had been flanked by the Huns and that they were now 
between us and the rest of the allied troops, because the shells 
appeared to be coming directly from the rear. Therefore we 
immediately prepared to defend the guns to the last man' It 
was a critical situation. Each man thought for himself that the 
Battery was lost. It was a case of defending the guns with pis- 
tols and the order was given to load them and stand by for any 
emergency. At this time none of our infantry were in sight so 
we thought we were without support. A hurried call was sent 
out and a platoon of A Co., 101st Inf., was sent up to help 
us Two shells landed in the middle of them and twelve men 
fell wounded. A group of the battery boys ran to their assist- 
ance and Corp. Sirois with a number of men aided the wounded 
doughboys to a first aid station in a nearby farmhouse. Seven 
o± them died before medical assistance reached them. At this 
time Capt. Howe immediately prepared to give the expected 
Boche a roya welcome if they tried to take our guns. He was 
not the least bit excited but on the other hand was cooler than 
we had ever noticed him before. His coolness and levelheaded- 
ness soon put every man at his ease. His first move was to 

Z^J'T l^'nn™^'"' ^^^ P'^^^ ^""'^ S'^"^^ o^t into an open 
field about 200 meters to the right and turn them to the rear 
The gun crews took their posts with orders to open direct fire 
ii^ .^'^^^ ^^^"^^"^ themselves and to use pistols if necessary 
Ihe other two gun crews remained where they were Avith the 
same orders, provided any attack was delivered from the front 
Ihe two battery machine guns were stationed at different eorl 
ners of the woods, one to the front, the other to the rear, ^^rith. 

71 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR' 



orders to open up at sight. Linemen of the telephone crew- 
were sent out to patch up the broken lines and establish com- 
munication. The other telephone men got out semaphore flags 
and established signaling stations, holding themselves in readi- 
ness to communicate by this means if the telephone lines could 
n .1 be repaired. Capt. How^e placed the remainder of the in- 
fantry and the other members of the battery in important 
places in the woods, up in the trees with loaded rifles and 
around the position with fixed bayonets, pistols and chau-chau 
(automatic rifles). The Battery boys, being armed with Ger- 
man rifles, bayonets and ammunition which they had collected, 
waited for the Boche to appear. It must be remembered that 
all this was quickly executed, a terrific bombardment being 
put down on us all the while. Not a man quailed, not a man 
w^as ''yellow," but then, who could be with Bill Howe for a 
skipper? At this stage of the game Company B of the 103d 
Inf. arrived to help us. They fixed bayonets and in skirmish 
order foi'med three waves in front of our guns. They were 
ordered to go out and meet the advancing Huns. Several of 
the boys in the Battery saw the chance to go over the top with 
the doughboys. It looked like a chance to get a Hun. A fellow 
from Battery B, called Torchy McCann, came over armed with 
a Boche rifle and bayonet and seeing Corp. McGinnis said 
"Let's go, Mack." McGinnis secured a rifle and bayonet from 
Corp. Charles Poole and over they went wdth the third wave, 
so McCann and McGinnis w^ere the only two who got away. 
Most of the fellows in Battery C, never saw McGinnis again 
until the Battery arrived in Brest, seven months later, on their 
way home, because he was only back about ten minutes some 
four hours later w'hen he was wounded and sent to the hospital. 
After about an hour's patient waiting the fire gradually shifted. 
The news came over the phone from the P. C. that the enemy 
had been silenced by our heavy artillery. Capt. Howe was not 
the only one who felt a sense of regret that the Huns did not 
show up for every man there said that they would have liked 
the chance to get a crack at the Boche. It was really too bad 
that they did not come and rather mean of them after our 
planning such a nice welcoming party for their especial bene- 
fit. 

Our only casualty in the drive had been Pvt. Swanson who- 

72 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

had been gassed on July 18th, but we had a feAv checked up 
against us in this position. About ten o'clock after the excite- 
ment just related was over, Sgt. Clarence Davis and Corp. Ed- 
ward Sirois, their work for the present being done, lay down 
to get a little sleep and rest. They were lying beside each 
other on the ground using the same blanket for a pillow when 
they were joined by Corp. McGinnis aTjout 11.15, who had 
just returned from the infantry. At this time Eddie Sirois was 
well in the running for honors as champion food consumer of 
the battery because although only a small man in stature, he 
certainly could tuck away the eats. He later on dropped to 
fourth place, hoAvever, Corp. John L. Ferguson taking the lead- 
ing place, Sgt. Frank Killelea second place and Pvt. William 
Donovan going to third. About 11.30 Eddie was notified by the 
"inner man" that he was neglecting him and so leaving his 
couch on mother earth, Eddie went scouting around for Phil 
Riley and his kitchen, which never had anything to eat around 
it anyway. Corp. William I. Hart figuring that Eddie's place 
looked rather good lay down between Ted Davis and Bill 
McGinnis and was soon far away (probably back in Lawrence). 
A few minutes after this a Hun battery opened up on the posi- 
tion, one of the projectiles landing within ten feet of this trio 
and causing all three to receive wounds. Steve Langmaid and 
Norman Barteaux, the first aid men attached to the Battery 
grabbed Hart and Davis and Capt. Howe caught hold of 
McGinnis. Their wounds were dressed and stretcher bearei^s 
carried them to a dressing station where they were met by 
Father Farrell who supplied them with cigarettes and tried to 
console them until the ambulance arrived and took them to the 
rear. 

We continued to fire all day and all night in this position. 
We were constantly under fire and to make matters worse they 
coasted gas shells in, the gas hovering around the trees. Every 
man in the battery received a good dose of gas at this place, 
although not enough to seriously injure them. They had to 
wear gas masks almost the entire day and night, but they had 
to carry on. The only serious gas case Avas Harold Gardner 
one of our machine gunners and he was evacuated to the hospi- 
tal. Late that afternoon, while firing a barrage James O'Rourke 
was seriously wounded in the left forearm. He came running 

73 



SMASPIING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR' 



out of the woods yelling that John Fortin was hit, forgetting 
his own injuries. Barteaux dressed his wounds and along wdtli 
Corp. Sirois, carried him on a stretcher to the first aid station, 
while Langraaid dressed Fortin who had a terrible wound in 
the back. Langmaid and Sgt. Frank Killelea carried him to 
the first aid station. 

There was no sleep or rest this night as we were firing all 
the time and the telephone lines would just be fixed when they 
would go out again. Our line had now been advanced as far 
as Epieds and Trugny Wood, but the Boche were putting up a 
stiff resistance here and with the aid of their reserves managed 
to stop us for the time being. Their entire rear-guard con- 
sisted of machine guns and they were everywhere, in the trees, 
behind stone walls, inside stocks of wheat, in houses of the 
towns and in every conceivable place. There were nests of them 
in places where our boys would think there was no one and 
they took an enormous toll. 

Things in general were disagreeable enough but the ever- 
present rain, which had kindly stayed away for the past two 
days commenced and the mud made things all the more inter- 
esting. 

We continued to fire steadily until noon-time of July 23d 
when we received orders to change positions. The new posi- 
tion was on the top of a hill commanding Epieds and the 
Trugny Wood, the possession of which we were striving to 
gain at this time. We relieved a French Battery in this new 
position. Before we could occupy it we were forced to climb a 
very steep hill. The Captain of the French battery which we 
Avere relieving told Captain Howe that it took him twenty (20) 
hours to get his Battery up this hill. Captain Howe replied by 
saying that it would take us no twenty (20) hours to make it 
and we commenced the task. Our horses had been working 
steadily day and night, pulling ammunition, supplies and doing 
a hundred and one other tasks and on account of the inclement 
weather and hard steady work with very little sleep and small 
ration of food, which was all canned and which had practically 
no nourishment in it, getting very little water and that not fit 
to drink, both man and beast were well nigh exhausted, but 
still there was no complaining or grumbling. As we looked 
around and, saw the grim silent figures lying here and there, 

74 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



we thought how much worse off we could be and became all the 
more determined. As the horses were unable to pull the car- 
riages up this hill, the boys put their shoulders to the wheel 
and inside of four (4) hours we were in position, with tele- 
phone communication established and firing away, a task ac- 
complished which no one, most of all our French friends, 
thought we could accomplish in two (2) days. The hill, the 
rain and mud, were not the only things with which we had to 
contend in going to this new position. A German battery using 
whizz-bangs (Austrian 88 milimeter guns) so named on account 
of the speed with which the shells travel, kept up a continuous 
sweeping fire on the road, which rather hindered us in our 
work. Several French soldiers were killed. All our carriages 
except one caisson had been brought up the hill and Coporal 
August Mathison, who was in charge of the caisson was waiting 
on his horse at the foot of the hill, for the men to come back 
and push his caisson up and with him were two cannoneers, 
Self and Phillips. Just at the moment that the rest of the boys 
started down the hill to bring this last carriage up, one of the 
shells bursts on the road, not fifteen feet from this trio. All 
three were riddled with the shell splinters, and Mathison 's 
horse was killed on the spot. Capt. Howe seeing them go down, 
galloped down the hill at break-neck speed, leaped from his 
horse and grabbed Mathison in his arms and started with him 
to a first aid station, five hundred meters distant but he was 
dead before he went ten feet. Self and Phillips also died im- 
mediately. It was one of the saddest incidents that took place 
during our entire career on the front. 

All three of these boys were well liked by the battery and 
Mathison had seen more service in it than almost any other 
man, with one or two exceptions. They died true heroes, per- 
forming their full duty to the last moment. What more glori- 
ous death could a soldier wish! Their memory will always 
be dearly cherished by every man in the Battery. 

This was another busy night and we received but little rest. 
We received orders on this night that we would attack on the 
24th and that all objectives must be gained regardless of the 
cost. The Boche were stubbornly contesting every foot of 
ground and our Infantry was sustaining terrible losses. Early 
on the morning of July 24th all the Artillery concentrated on. 

75 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

Epieds and Triigny AVoods. Following these extensive Artillery 
preparations, our Infantry went over, drove the Huns out of 
Epieds and the Trugny Wood and onee again we had them on 
the run. 

At noon we received orders to prepare to advance once 
more, and at 2.00 P. ]\I. moved on to the road and proceeded to 
Epieds. Just before we entered the village, we came upon a 
big German 210 milimeter gun, w^hich had slid into the mud 
at the side of the road and had to be abandoned. This gun is 
in Boston at the present time. Just as we passed through 
Epieds, at 4.35 P. M., a German sacrifice piece began to fire 
into the village. It did no material damage, however, and no 
casualties were sustained. All along the line of march, the 
same sights which had been confronting us for the past weelv 
were visible. On all sides were those silent forms, both friend 
and foe alike. Every one of our boys had fallen with his face 
turned toward the enemy. There were great quantities of am- 
munition and supplies of every kind. Evidently the Boche 
had intended to remain in this salient for some time, judging 
from the extensive preparations which he had made. 

Towards the end of our march on this day, when we were 
hiking along a road on the outskirts of the Fere Woods, we 
happened upon Co. F, of the 101st Infantry from Lawrence, 
which was marching in single file in the field adjoining the 
road to the left with Captain Francis M. Leahy, the Lawrence 
hero, acting as a Battalion Commander and marching at the 
head of the column. The Battery and company boys from Law- 
rence were exchanging greetings when a German Battery of 
Austrian 88 's opened fire on the road. We continued along, 
not even this stopping the doughboys and Artillerymen from 
jollying and wishing each other the "best o' luck." We were 
used to such shelling as this by this time and it was to us all a 
part of the day's work. We had seen pals drop here and there ; 
we had seen them carried away dead and wounded; we had 
seen our best buddies and bunkies. hori-ibly torn to pieces by 
shell and sutfering the tortures of Hell itself, from gas and 
shell shock, the two most dreaded evils of the front, so that 
such sights and misfortunes were now an every day occurrence 
and we took them as a matter of course. To say that we were 
becoming hardened would be an injustice. Every man there 

76 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



had sworn to do his duty to the best of his ability, even unto 
death. We saw our pals and buddies go one by one, not know- 
ing whether we would be the next or not and we may add we 
had long since ceased to worry about such things. We were in 
the hands of Fate and what mortal man, may I ask, can guide 
those hands? We asked ourselves, ''what good will it do me 
to worry or ponder over such matters?" The answer would 
come, "no good, but a great deal of harm," for it meant a 
breakdown, sooner or later. We fully realized the danger we 
were in and were as prudent and careful as possible under the 
circumstances, but our work had carried us into dangerous and 
hazardous places and no man could or would shirk. We placed 
ourselves under the care of Almighty God, knowing that "His 
Will would be done, " despite anything WE might do. If it Avaa 
God's Will, that our worldly career should end here, then we 
were happy in the thought that we had done our duty and had 
done it as well as we knew how. Captain FrancisM. Leahy 
was a wonderful example of this feeling. As he hiked along 
smiling and jollying despite the bursting shells, a very small 
splinter from one of the shells hit him in the breast, close to 
the heart and he fell. Immediately aid was summoned, but no 
earthly hand could help him. Knowing that he was about to 
die, he still remembered his duty to God, country and man and 
that fighting "Yankee Spirit" was there with his last breath. 
Calling for Lt. Hanson, the next officer in command, he turned 
over the Battalion to him. uttering those immortal words, that 
will live in the pages of history forever as the last words of a 
Great Hero : "Hanson, the Command is Forward ; see the boys 
throug-h." What a wonderful example of a true American 
patriot, fighter and man ! What a wonderful example to set 
for the "Yankee Division," and for the American Army to fol- 
low! This spirit and many other like examples fled through 
the American Expeditionary Forces, like wild-fire and ulti- 
mately ended in glorious victory. What chance did the Ger- 
mans have with 2,500,000 men like our hero, Captain Francis 
M. Leahy. 



77 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 



A Tribute to Captain Francis M. Leahy 

We, true Americans, all honor your memory and deeds. 
You, who have proved yourself by your every action and deed, 
even to your dying moment, to be a true American Patriot. 
You, who have now the greatest of honors, the right to be 
called an American Hero. Let all true Americans follow your 
supreme example — let all those among us to-day who live and 
enjoy the rights and privileges of true American citizenship, all 
those who partake of the freedom of our glorious country, but 
Avho do not like the way our country is managed, the slackers, 
who, having taken out first papers or no papers at all, who 
Avhen called for service hung to the plea that they were not 
citizens and refused to become citizens, because they would 
have to fight for their bread and butter, but who at the same 
time became rich, ^^'hile all true Americans were fighting their 
battles for them, all the cowards and yellow streaks v,'ho hid 
behind the despiea])le name of "Conscientious Objector," all 
the so-called "Bolsheviki," murderers and bomb plotters, all 
the ignorant professors and backers of the "Red Flag" of an- 
archy, for there is room for but one flag in the "land of the 
free and the home of the brave," and that is "Old Glory, the 
glorious red, white and blue," let all such swine as these l3e de- 
ported from our country, never to return for we have no room 
here for such as these, ignorant, unsatisfied, despoilers of law 
and order. 

The firing on the road was the result of our column having 
been discovered by a Boche "one-eyed Riley" (observation 
balloon). Our aviators soon attacked and brought this balloon 
down in flames and we all broke into cheers. Luckily for the 
Battery, none of our men were among the 15 or 20 men wound- 
ed or killed, by this straffing. We pulled into the woods and 
halted on the side of the road, awaiting darkness to go into po- 
sition. We had a wait of about two hours and were subjected 
to a continuous bombardment, but fortunately for us the Boche 
were poor artillerymen and only a few of the shells intended 
for the road, hit their objective. A drenching rain set in, 
which, of course, made things very much more pleasant. About 
8.00 P. M. we pulled into position, about 200 meters west of 
the Joulgonne-Fere-en-Tardenois highway and 500 meters 

78 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

from the Saacrie Farm. Although it rained all night and the 
Huns persisted in dropping 210 's all around us and despite the 
fact that we got very little sleep, everyone was in the highest 
of spirits, for Captain Howe informed us that the next day, 
July 25th, we would be relieved by another American Division 
and go back for a rest. However, once again we were doomed 
to be disappointed on the rest question. On July 25th the In- 
fantry was relieved, but the Artillery, Signal Corps, Engineers 
and ammunition trains remained in to continue the fight for 
a time. This was on account of the scarcity of Artillery. It 
rained hard all day and the 42nd Division Infantry came in and 
we ''carried on." 

The Division as a whole recaptured 17.5 kilometers of ter- 
ritory, liberated many towns and villages, captured scores of 
machine guns, and many pieces of both light and heavy field 
guns. Also to the 26th went credit for great stores of supplies 
and ammunition. 

We received many citations for our wonderful work in this 
offensive from both American and French headquarters. It is 
impossible to publish all these, but the following will aid to 
show what the 26th Division accomplished in this drive. 

After the Offensive our gallant and courageous command- 
er, Major General Clarence R. Edwards, issued the following 
order to the Division : 

*'0n July 18th you entered, as part of the allied drive 
against the enemy, upon the offensive, and continued the of- 
fensive combat until the major portion of the command was 
relieved on July 25th. On the assumption of the offensive your 
position in the line demanded an important and difficult ma- 
noeuvre. Your success in this was immediate and great, and the 
way in which you executed it elicited high praise from the 
French Army Commander. 

"The eight days from July 18th to 25th marking the first 
great advance against the enemy in M^hich American troops 
bore proportionately a considerable share, are of historical im- 
portance. Your part therein can never be forgotten. 

"In those eight days you carried your line as far as any 
part of the advance was carried. Torcy, Belleau, Gievres, the 
Bouresehes Woods, Rochet Woods, Hill 190, overlooking Cha- 
teau Thierry, Etrepilly, Epieds, Trugny and finally La Fere 

79 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 

Woods and the objective, the Joulgonne-Fere-eii-Tardenois 
road belong to your arms. 

"You are the recipients of praise, thanks and congratula- 
tions of our Commander in Chief, You went unafraid into the 
face of the enemy's fire; you forced him to withdraw before 
you or to accept the alternative of hand to hand combat, in 
which you proved yourselves, morally and physically his su- 
perior; you gave freely and gave much of your strength, and 
of your blood and your lives, until pushed beyond mere physi- 
cal endurance, fighting night and day, you still forced your- 
selves forward, sustained almost by spirit alone. 

''These things are now a part of your own consciousness. 
Nothing can detract from them, nothing that I can say can add 
to them ; but I can testify in this way to my pride in command- 
ing such troops, so capable of achieving success in every under- 
taking; and this testimony I give to each of you, gladly and 
with deep gratitude." 

For the work performed by the "Yankee Division," in 
this great struggle, General Edwards and the Division received 
the thanks of the Mayors of the Arrondisement of the Meaux 
and General Degoutte, French Commander, wrote General Ed- 
wards as follows : — 

' ' The operations carried out by the 26th American Division 
from July 25tli, demonstrated the fine soldierly qualities of this 
unit and of its leader. Gen. Edwards. 

"Co-operating in the attack north of the Marne, the 26th 
Division fought brilliantly on the line Torcy-Belleau, at Mon- 
thiers, Epieds and Trugny and in the forest of Fere, advancing 
more than 15 kilometers in depth in spite of the desperate re- 
sistance of the enemy. 

"I take great pleasure in communicating to Gen. Edwards 
and his valiant division this expression of my great esteem, 
together with my heartiest congratulations for the manner in 
which they have served the common cause. I could not have 
done better in similar occasion with my best troops." 

The only criticism made by Gen. Degoutte on the work of 
the Division was "that they were too ambitious and went ahead 
too fast." 

The following article appeared in the Paris edition of the 
New York Herald about the end of July, 1918. At that time 

80 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



eensoi'ship regulations prevented the names of Divisions being 
used, but tlie following story is a summary of the work of the 
26th in the Aisne-Marne Offensive or The Second Battle of the 
Marne. 

RELATES GLORIOUS EXPLOITS OF AMEX MEN IN BIG 

BATTLE 

French Report Describes Twelve-Mile Advance North of Mame 
Against Immense Odds. 

The story of the gloi'ious part taken by the American 
troops in the great counter-offensive which has forced the ene- 
my to retreat from the Marne is told in a French official report 
issued yesterday, which says : — 

At daybreak on July 18 the order was given to capture the 
enemy's first positions. The American division, whose exploits 
are to be described in the report, held the Belleau Wood, whicli 
was the pivot of General Degoutte's army. 

At the outset the Americans had to be held back, for in 
their dash and enthusiasm they would willingly have gone 
past their objectives. Closely following the barrage, they liad 
reached the Torcy-Belleau-Givry line and the railway as far as 
Bouresches in the first dash forward and encouraged by this 
success Ave re straining to push on. 

Meanwhile the French were fighting hard on the Ameri- 
can's left and in order to relieve the pressure on them the men 
in khaki, with amazing boldness, made an enveloping movement 
which was completely successful and General Degoutte, ex- 
pressing his admiration, said "I could not have done better in 
the same circumstances with my best troops." 

How Foe Retreat Started 

As a result of this move the Germans' position at Mon- 
thiers was so critical that they began their retirement. 

Epieds was entered on July 22nd by an American com- 
pany. Terrible hand-to-hand fighting took place here, followed 
by an intense barrage from the enemy's heavy artillery. The 
shattered village afforded no cover and to cross it would have 
meant fearful losses. Rather than make useless sacrifices the 

81 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 



Americans were withdrawn and another enveloping movement 
was begun on July 23d. 

The plan of operations was to get through Trugny wood, 
south of Epieds. The Germans put up a furious opposition, but 
they only found out to their cost, the meaning of American ten- 
acity. At first the khaki warriors were stopped, but on July 
24th they went forward straight into the wood and fought 
their way ahead with such determination that by three o 'clock 
in the afternoon they were on the outskirts of Fere Forest and 
a few hours later they had reached the road from Jaulgonne to 
Fere-en-Tardenois. 

Thus in six days this American division advanced at some 
points as much as seventeen kilometers, fighting day and night 
without a break, displaying the finest military qualities." 

When the entire division was finally relieved and we con- 
centrated in an area around La Ferte-sur-Marne, about 30 kilo- 
meters East of Paris, they hailed us with cheers and conferred 
the title, "Saviours of Paris," upon the ''Yankee Division." 
Nothing was too good for us. When we went to Paris, we 
owned the city as far as the civilian population went. 

Our firing was almost continuous on the day and night of 
the 25th and the day of the 26th and so was the rain. On the 
night of the 26th the Infantry made a silent attack, and re- 
quested no Artillery fire, so we received somewhat of a rest. 
On the morning of July 27th the Infantry advanced as far as 
the Croix-Rouge farm. Here they encountered a machine gun 
nest but the Artillery concentrated on it and soon drove the 
Boche out. The Germans once more, finding their heels, began 
a rapid retreat. At 3.30 P. M. we hauled the guns out of po- 
sition and once more took up the advance. This advance over 
shell-torn roads, subjected at all times to Artillery bombard- 
ment, was very similar to the others already described. 

At 1.00 P. M., July 28th we pulled into our new position 
which was in a neck of the Fere-Forest about one and one-half 
kilometers East of the Croix-Rouge farm. Our Infantry had 
advanced as far as Sergy and the Ourcq river and the French 
on our left after terrible opposition, took one of the most im- 
portant points in the salient, the city of Fere-en-Tardenois, 
Avhich was a railroad center and the supply base for the salient. 
We now expected the Boche to put up a strong opposition, in 

82 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

order that they might remove as much as possible of their sup- 
plies, ammunition and material out of the salient, having now- 
given up all hope of holding it, and they did not disappoint us. 
We worked until daylight, getting the guns into position and 
communication established. Sgt. John J. McCarthy left about 
noon-time to attend a course of training at the Saumur Artil- 
lery Officers Training School. 

We remained in this position for six days, until August 
2nd, during which time we were firing almost continually day 
and night, but Capt. Howe arranged a system of reliefs and we 
got considerable rest, that is, w^hen the cooties would behave. 
The food was also better, and we got some fairly good water. 
Up to this time we had been eating about once a day or once 
every tAvo or three days. Here, we managed to get something 
such as it was twice every day. As there had been hardly any 
water to drink, washing also was entirely out of the question 
and we had washed but seldom in the past three weeks and 
then in only a handful of rain water out of a shell-hole. Shav- 
ing and hair cuts were things of another world and we were by 
this time, in army talk, a fine bunch of half-starved, funny look- 
ing birds. 

Our particular target here w- as the Planchetta Woods just 
to the right of Sergy, where the Boche kept massing forces and 
we kept it under fire day and night. 

Sergy itself also claimed a great deal of attention. Every 
day and night, during our six days here, we were subjected to 
heavy shelling, gas and aerial bombardments. About July 31st, 
the 28th division Infantry relieved the 42nd Division Infantry 
and still we ''carried on," with no relief in sight. Sgt. David 
"Darby" Yule and Corp. John L. Ferguson, who had been to 
a training school returned to the Battery on this afternoon. 

The fighting at this point Avas terrific. Sergy had changed 
hands nine times. But on Aug. 1st Sergy, Seringes, Nesle and 
the Planchetta Woods w^ere taken and held. 

The following article appeared in the Paris edition of the 
Chicago Tribune about August 1st, 1918 and Avill serve to show 
how severe the fighting Avas at this time and hoAV gallantly 
we Avere fighting. 



83 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "AYOELD AVAR" 

AMERICAN TROOPS FIGHT AND BEAT THE PRUSSIAN 

GUARDS 

Sergy, Near the Ourcq, Changes Hands Nine Times, and Fam- 
ous Enemy Regiment Melts Away Before the Shooting 
and Ardour of the Men From the U. S. 

United States Official. Beyond the Ouvcq, heavy counter- 
attacks made by fresh forces of the enemy have resulted in 
severe fighting. Sergy taken by our troops yesterday, after 
having changed hands nine times, remains in our possession. 

From Herbert Bailey With The American Army 

Fighting on the Sergy-Seringes front, where the Ameri- 
cans are in line, has continued throughout the day with marked 
severity. The 4th Prussian Guard, which has again and again 
attacked the Americans has sutfered heavily and to-night it has 
been foi'ced back beyond Sergy over the heights. 

For some time today the Germans held a dominating posi- 
tion. They w^ere on the heights beyond Sergy. with the Ameri- 
cans in the valley and it Avas here that the fighting of this after- 
noon was most intense. The Americans were without any sem- 
blance of cover from machine gun or Artillery fire and they 
had to lie in the gutters of the streets for shelter. But with 
the bayonet, the rifle and machine gun they stormed the 
heights and succeeded in forcing the Germans over to the other 
side. 

Sergy has now changed hands during the recent fighting 
no fewer than nine times, but to-night it rests in the hands of 
the Americans , How bitter has been the fighting may be gaug- 
ed from the fact that the Americans have only taken a few 
prisoners to-day. There is naturally much exaltation among 
the men at their success in defeating so severely a Guards divi- 
sion that was so fresh and in such excellent trim. 

In Sergy when the Americans re-entered, they found that 
their wounded had been bayoneted. They also discovered that 
the Germans had placed machine guns in the church, and after 
the artillery had demolished the edifice the Americans went 
forward and captured what was left. 

It was also discovered that in a Red Cross building in 

84 



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WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



Sei'gy, the Germans had coneealed a number of machine guns. 

The Americans participated in some very severe fighting 
throughout yestei'day aftei'noon and last night. They crossed 
the Ourcq in the region of Sergy early yestei'day morning, the 
Germans at one point giving such detei-mined resistance by 
machine-gun fire that it was necessary for the Americans who 
had waded the i-ivei- to retire, and then, after the American 
artillery had rained shells upon the machine-gun nests, to 
ei-oss again and mount the river heights. They then pressed 
on to Sergy on the one side and Seringes on the other. 

Both these places were taken after intermittent fighting 
with machine-gun nests and under heavy shell fire. The French 
meanwhile had taken Fere-en-Tardenois when the Germans be- 
gan the first of a series of violent counter attacks. The 4th 
Prussian Guard, which has been resting for sometime and 
which is one of the best in the service of Germany, was flung 
against the Americans yesterday afternoon, on its first day of 
arrival. 

NO HEADWAY FOR ENEMY 

The Americans seized the piivilege with an ardor that must 
have astonished the foe. At various points the Americans, 
under the pressure of the attack and the severe artillery fire, 
were forced to surrender a farm or a field. Sergy itself changed 
hands many times during the day and night and an almost 
similar fate befell Seringes, but the Germans, despite four at- 
tacks, could make no real headway against the Americans who, 
with machine guns and rifles, backed by powerful and intense 
artillery fire, saw the finely built men of the Guard melt away 
before their shooting. At daw^n this morning the enemy had 
made no appreciable gains, but the fight was still proceeding. 

All along tliis front artillery of almost every possible cali- 
ber is in action. The tremendous noise seems strange after 
the last few days, when one contemplated an advance without 
even the sound of a gun, with curiosity and even amazement. 
Various opinions are held here as to what this counter-attack 
means. It may be, as has been suggested, merely in order to 
preserve the morale of the German troops, who have so often 
been promised a much needed rest. 

85 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR' 



! BATTLING FOR TIME 

The most probable reason, however, is that the Allied ad- 
vance is too rapid for the retreating Germans, and that it has 
■even necessitated the desperate expedient of bringing the 
Guards into action to win the time needed for continuation of 
an orderly retreat. It is well known, for instance, that in the 
J^^orest of Nesles the Germans still have considerable supplies 
of ammunition and other stores, and that many guns of a very 
large calibre were firing from it a few days ago. 

Then, again, the enemy is fighting for time in which to 
prepare defences and to select a point for a decisive stand, and 
it is possibly a combination of these reasons which has brought 
such a heavy counter-attack. Meanwhile the Americans are 
piling up the corpses and taking prisoners Avhen it is possible. 
Few men, however, are coming out of the fight as prisoners. 
The struggle is so severe that it is a fight to the death. 

Naturally iletails are very meagre, but that the Americans 
are fighting extraordinarily well is evident on every hand. 

The following article appeared in the Paris Edition of the 
New York Herald about August 1, 1918 : 

PRUSSIANS AND BAVARIANS UNABLE TO STOP AMER- 
ICANS; FRENCH ADVANCE THEIR LINE. 

Picked G-erman Troops Fighting Foot by Foot as They Slowly 

Retreat — ^Meurcy Farm Scene of Fierce Conflicts 

Over Possession of Machine Guns 

Special Telegram to the Herald. By Don Martin, 

With the American Armies. Tuesday. 

The Prussians and Bavarians who were rushed to the front 
in the region of Sergy to expend their full force in checking 
the advance of the American troops at all costs, and to try to 
force the enemy back were fighting all of Monday night and 
today, and were themselves gradually falling back under the 
determined assaults of the young men from across the sea. 

It will be of interest to the Germans to learn some time 
that a fair percentage of the American troops who have been 
wresting the laurels from the picked German soldiers are of 
German ancestry. 

86 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



The Americans occupied Sergy last evening. It was the 
ninth shift in ownership of the village. The Americans still 
hold it. They have advanced up the slopes back of the village. 
They also have taken and held Seringes-et-Nesles. 

The unit which has done such brilliant fighting in this 
region, especially for the last three days, enjoyed a splendid 
record before it was used as a shock division for the Allied 
cause. It cannot be identified because of the censorship rules, 
but some day, when the full story of its gallant performance 
near Sergy is given to the public, the Americans everywhere 
will tip their hats to the boys. 

A HUMILIATING REVERSE 

Indications multiply that the Boche has suffered the most 
humiliating reverse he has known and that it has left him in a 
much weakened and terrified state, though not so impoverished, 
it should be understood, that he is not capable of making an- 
other offensive and of interposing the stoutest resistance to any 
subsequent offensive of the Allies. 

To the Americans the fact stands out that the Boche who 
was treating the Americans as a poor deluded boy in knee 
breeches, who knew nothing about the mighty art of war as 
Germany knew and perfected it, is giving the said Boche twice 
as much as the Boche sends and is giving brilliant proof every 
day that the German shock troops are no better, man for man, 
than the youngsters who make up the "contemptible" army. 

Boche airplanes were busy over the lines yesterday. They 
were especially bold, flying as low as 500 feet in some places, 
to fire machine-guns at the line or to take observations. 

German artillery also was active. 

It is impossible to state how far back the Hun intends to 
go before establishing a definite line. If the Germans are able 
to hold in the Soissons region, it is probable and likely, it is 
said by men who know things about armies, that they will go 
no farther than Fismes. 

August 2nd 1918, we once more took up the advance and 
left the position which we had occupied for the past six days 
at 9.30 A. M. The advance this time was not very long, only 
about four kilometers. We crossed the Ourcq river proceeded 

87 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 

through Sergy and look up our 6th position of the offensive 
in the noi-thern neck of the Planchetta Woods. Never wall we 
forget the sight that we saw here. The town of Sergy, like all 
the others, was a total ruin: hardly a tree standing in the 
Planchetta Woods, our former objective, but that which im- 
pre sed us most was the dead. There were thousands of 
Americans and Boche, piled on top of each other here. This sec- 
tion was literally strewn Avith all kinds of equipment of both 
armies. It was a horrible mess and beyond description. 

There were no rations for supper this night. We had about 
half a dozen cans of Peaches, donated by the Red Cross and 
Cook Phil. Riley, divided these amongst the boys. Each man 
got about 1/4 of a peach, Capt. Howe going without. We were 
now supporting the 4th Division Infantry. 

We did not remain long in this position however and fired 
but little during the night. The next day August 3rd. at 10.15 
A. M. we once more took up our loads and departed for parts 
unknown. We passed through Nesles at 1.00 o'clock noon. 
The sun was shining for about the second time in the past 
month. This was a hard hike as the roads were in a terri- 
ble condition having all been blown up by the retreating Huns. 
Late on the same night the battery went into their seventh and 
last position of the drive, near Chery, about five kilometers 
west of Fismes and the Vesle River, the final objective of the 
drive. All night and all the next day we fired on Fismes. 

On August 4th, at 9.00 P. M. we were relieved by the 4th 
Division. Oh ! how good this order did seem. It seemed al- 
most impossible that at last we were going to get some sleep, 
food, water and clothes, but it was a fact nevertheless. What 
a job we had completed, how we ever stayed up is more than 
we could tell. The entire Brigade received many citations and 
congratulations, for the wonderful feat that it had performed. 
From July 18th, to August 4th, 1918, it had waged continuous 
offensive warfare, getting very little food, sleep or water. It 
made a total advance of 41 kilometers against great opposition, 
the largest sins'le advance ever made by any similar unit in 
the entire American Ai'my. It supported besides its own, the 
infantry of three other divisions (42nd, 28th, 4th) Even 
though exhausted, hungry, tired, they carried on and the 
morale was of highest calibre at all times. Not a single man 

88 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



grumbled or shirked his duties in any way. It was firing on 
J'^smes and the Vesle Valley, the last objectives of the drive, 
when relieved. 

J'^ol lowing is an order issued by Genei-al EdAvards, at the 
time of his departure for the United States, to the 51st Field 
Artillery Brigade, of the 26th .Division, of which Battery C, 
was a unit. 

"To the artillery of the 26th is due my expression 
of admiration for its efficiency and aggressive fighting 
qualities and for its indefatigable support of our fine 
infantry. Artillery can desire no higher tribute than 
the conscious fact that it has gained the confidence, re- 
liance and thanks of the infantry. 

"During more than eight months of fighting service 
the spirit of loyalty displayed by every officer and man 
of the 51st Artillery Brigade, towards his duty, toward 
the Yankee Division and toward the division Commander 
has been fine. 

"The record of the 51st Artillery Brigade in the 
Second Battle of the ]\rarne, is glorious. It went with 
supported and protected the infantry in its advance of 
I8I/2 kilometers by Chateau-Thierry, and after in suc- 
cession three other divisions in the advance from the 
Marne to the Vesle for a period of eighteen days, be- 
tween July 18th and August 4th with a gain of over 
40 kilometers. It is a record of which the entire division 
and our country justly may be proud. 

"I congratulate and thank the Artillery Brigade of 
the Yankee Division." 



89 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR' 



CHAPTER X 

The Keturn From The Drive — Our Third Theoretical 
Rest Camp 

A fine looking lot of warriors we were, when we left the 
fighting front at 9.00 P. M. August 4th and if the folks who 
greeted us when we got home with the words, "Oh, how fine 
you look," could have seen us then, I wonder what they woul-d 
have said. We had been just six months to a day, February 
4th to August 4th on the front, without a rest with the one ex- 
f-eption of about twenty days, consumed in forced marching 
from one sector to another. Now that the excitement and thrill 
of battle was over for the time being, a reaction set in. We 
had not washed or shaved for the past three weeks; we had 
been drinking all kinds of bad water and what little food we 
did get, was canned and contained but little nourishment. We 
had been working like slaves, catching only a wink of sleep 
now and then and this, usually in the pelting rain and knee 
deep mud, for it rained three quarters of the time. We had 
not changed a stitch of clothes, in fact, did not even remove our 
vshoes or socks in all this time. We had been wet through time 
and again and our clothes dryed on us only to be soaked again. 
And I do not think that I need add that our old friend the 
cootie, inhabited our clothes in abundance. Oiothes and shoes 
were very dirty and almost in rags and many of the men were 
almost barefooted. The results of this were that almost every 
man had a cough, sore feet, dysentery, rheumatism, trench or 
three day fever and about every tther ailment that could exist. 
The thing that worried us the most, however, was the lack of 
tobacco and cigarettes. It was wonderful what new life a pipe- 
ful of tobacco or a cigarette would put into a man in those 
days, but let me tell you that they were mighty scarce. 

Not one of us, I feel safe in saying, will ever forget the 
first night of our march rearward. Two trucks were supplied 
to each battery, to carry the unmounted men and surplus 
equipment. These trucks followed along with the rest of the 
column. Despite the condition that they were in, the boys 

90 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

perched on the top, in the seats, on the mud guards, in fact, in 
every conceivable place on the trucks and burst forth into song. 
Were we happy? well I'll say that we were. Every song that 
we knew was sung over and over again and then different 
ones were called upon to sing solos. The road was shelled sev- 
eral times but little it worried us and the singing went on * til 
daylight. We passed through a valley and on the hills in the 
distance could plainly be seen the flashes of the guns, rockets 
and star shells which were shooting up. Huge fires told us 
that the Boche were burning more ammunition and supplies in 
their retreat. What a wonderful sight it all was ! It seemed 
all the more wonderful to us, now that we were leaving it all 
behind for the time being. At 4.30 P. M. August 5th we 
passed through Fere-en-Tardenois which had been leveled to 
the ground. We w^ere spell-bound at the sight of the enormous 
supplies of all kinds left behind by the Boche. They cer- 
tainly did not expect to lose this salient. At 7.00 A. M. we 
pulled into the Fere Woods after a twenty-eight kilometer 
hike. Here we first looked after our tired, exhausted horses 
and then sought our own comfort. The first thing on the pro- 
gram was breakfast and then followed sleep, the two most es- 
sential factors of erery soldier's make-up. We rested in these 
woods all day and at 9.00 o'clock in the evening we were once 
again on the road. This time the march was only twenty kilo- 
meters long and took us through Chateau-Thierry at 6.00 A. M. 
August 6th. We halted just outside the city, on the banks of 
the Marne river and once more we had an all day rest. There 
were two reasons why we were hiking at night at this time. The 
first and foremost was, that we did not want the Boche to 
know that any troops were leaving the line, which they would 
surely find out if their planes came over and discovered troops 
on the road heading for the rear. The second reason was that 
at this season of the year it was very hot during the day, but 
at night much cooler and so it made it very much more com- 
fortable for both man and horse to hike during the hours of 
darkness. Almost every man took advantage of the excellent 
opportunity for a wash and a swim in the Marne. Oh, how 
good that Avater did feel and the joy of getting our clothes off 
and splashing around in the water was unexcelled. The only 
thing to spoil our joy was the fact that we did not have any 

91 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 



clean clothes to put on and it seemed a shame to spoil a good 
bath by putting on dirty clothes once again. All the boys took 
a trip into C'hateau-Thierry after they were rested and if we 
were enraged at the destruction and devastation of the Hun 
before, we were furious now, when we looked about this once 
beautiful city. The houses and buildings were not destroyed 
as one would be led to believe. To be sure they were destroyed 
to some extent, but not in keeping with the other cities and 
towns along the battle-front. The reason for this is very ap- 
parent, because, when the Boche drove through this section 
and came within shelling distance of the city, the French, 
knowing only too well from experience that they would des- 
troy it quickly retreated and let the Germans come in. While 
the Huns held the city, the French would not fire on it and 
would not let us fire on it, because there was too much that 
they valued in there. Again, Avhen the Germans evacuated the 
city under our pressure they were driven so far back at the 
outset that before they could get their guns into action again 
they were far out of range. However, the city might just as 
well have been destroyed as left in the condition in Avhich it 
was. All works of art, pictures, statuary, paintings, books 
and the like of which there was an abundance had been 
stolen by these creatures of German Kultur. All that they 
could not carry away with them had been destroyed. The once 
magnificent cathedral of Chateau-Thierry had been torn to 
pieces and stripped of everything valuable by these swine. 

At 9.15 P. M. August 6th, we once again took to the road 
for another all night hike and at 6.00 A. M. August 7th arrived 
at Saacy, between Nanteuil and La P^erte-sur-Marne about 
thirty kilometers from Paris, after a hike of twenty-seven kilo- 
meters. Billets here were very poor and we only remained 
three days in this town. On August 10th we removed to a small 
town about three kilometers away which v^&s nothing more 
than a group of farm houses, but a nice quiet place. 

While in this area we had very little work to do. Of course 
the regular routine duty, such as guard, the care of horses and 
material had to be performed, but in general, ve did nothing 
but rest. The food was much better, but we still figurpd that 
there was plenty of room for improvement. We were paid 
while in this town and were able to buy butter, milk, cheese, 

92 



AVITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



eggs and bread from the French peasants. A group of the boys 
would get together and give an order to a French lady and she 
would make up a "feed" for them with all the foregoing ar- 
ticles and rabbit and chicken or both and french fried potatoes 
to boot. Hence while the money lasted, we didn't care much 
M-hether the kitchen ever got any rations or not. While here, 
every man always had a canteen full of milk around with him. 
We were supposed to get new clothes, shoes etc. while in this 
area, but never saw any of them. 

The divisional de-lousing machine came around and we put 
our clothes through this and were able to take a swim and bath 
in the JMarne and this helped a great deal. We made prepara- 
tions while here for extensive training in open warfare meth- 
ods. 

This was too good to last, however, and on August 13th, 
Ave were once again on the move. At 1.30 P. M. we were on 
the road and hiked twenty-seven kilometers to Chateau-Thier- 
ry, the loading point. We arrived there at 6.30 P. M. and 
waited until 11.30 P. M. to load. At 12.30 mid-night we were 
all loaded and started for we knew not where. We all thought 
at this time that we were going back to the front, to hold a 
sector of the new line along the Vesle River, once again they 
tricked us. 

At 5.30 P. M. August 14th we arrived at Poicon a railroad 
head about six kilometers south of Chatillon-sur-Seine. At 6.30 
P. M. we commenced a hike of twenty kilometers and at 11.30 
P. M. arrived in the village of Obtree in the Chatillon Training 
Area. After the horses were taken care of and the carriages 
parked, we were assigned to billets, but most of the men either 
slept under the carriages or pitched pup-tents for the first 
night. The billets here were very poor, simply old barns and 
sheds, but one of the duties of a good soldier is to make the best 
out of nothing and call that place wherever he hangs his hat 
his home. Accordingly we fixed these billets up and succeeded 
in making them fairly comfortable. Some of the boys who 
could talk French were lucky and secured rooms in the homes 
of the civilians, which was allowable provided the men answer- 
ed all calls and the French people were very glad indeed to take 
us in, because it seems our reputation had preceded us here. 
The boys paid these people the sum of one franc per day for 

93 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 



this luxury but only ate occasionally with the inhabitants. We 
did not know whether we would be here a day or a month. We 
had been on the move so much that it did not seem natural for 
us to stay in one place for a very long time. It got to be that 
if we stayed long in one place we grew impatient and wanted 
to move again. If we stayed a whole week in one place you'd 
hear such yells going around as, ''Well where do we go from 
here, Let's go, no excitement in this burg," etc. 

After Avhat we had gone through you might call our stay 
at the Chatillon Training Area a rest, but it was far from our 
idea of such. After the first two or three days a regular drill 
schedule came out and from then on there were drills and 
schools from reveille to retreat. Our hardest task was in get- 
ting acquainted with bugle calls once more. Bugles were not 
used at the front, and it was about six months since we had 
heard a bugle until w^e reached this camp. The course of 
training here was in the latest open- warfare methods for the 
reason that now we had the Boche in the open we were going 
to keep him there. 

Clothes were issued while in this area and almost every 
man was fitted out anew. There was plenty of opportunity to 
bathe in the Seine River and although the water was very cold, 
the chance was welcomed and almost every man took advantage 
of it. Thus for the time being we almost became respectable 
human beings. 

One thing which was a God-send, was the fact that we 
could get good fresh water to drink. The food also was much 
better than any we had received in France, but still it was 
nothing to boast about. I recall one incident that happened, 
while here, in the food line. Phil. Riley, thinking of making 
a hit with the boys, stole a bag of bran from our esteem.ed 
stable Sergeant Daniel J. Lorden and worked hard all day, 
mixing and baking bran cakes. The cakes were served at sup- 
per, but evidently the boys did not appreciate Phil's ability 
as a cook, for when they tasted the bran cakes, there was mur- 
der. Everybody, with their two bran cakes in their hands, sur- 
rounded the kitchen and calling Phil out, apparently to_ con- 
gratulate him on the fine job he had done, at a given signal 
from Paddy Collins, started a barrage and not a single one of 
those cakes missed Phil's red head. The next day the kitchen 

94 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



and in fact the entire town was covered with bran and needless 
to say no more bran cakes were made from this time on. 

The work of the telephone detail here, consisted mostly in 
signal practice, observation, the picking of battery positions 
and the problems confronted in this task and work with the 
goniometer, scissors instrument and plotting board. Telephones 
for the time being were entirely forgotten and from early morn 
until late at night one would find the boys of the detail signal- 
ing by semaphore and wig-wag, from the top of one hill to 
another, three or four kilometers distant and reading with the 
aid of field glasses. 

Furloughs were promised us here and the battery was 
even divided into sections and each section notified when they 
should go on the coveted furlough, but once again this privilege 
Avas not to be for us. According to regulations every man in 
the A. E. F. was to receive a seven days furlough once every 
four months. At this time we had been in France almost a 
year and three furloughs were now due us, but not a man in the 
battery had yet received one and I doubt if there was a man 
even in the division who had been so fortunate. There was 
no grumbling, however and our motto was, "Let's finish the 
job, then we'll get a furlough for life, out of this man's army." 

On August 17th Sgt. Bernard Lynch, left the battery to re- 
turn to the United States to act as an instructor for a new divi- 
sion just being formed. 

There was very little doing in the entertainment line. Once 
a moving picture eame into the town and anticipating an en- 
joyable evening we all gathered in the square to witness one 
for the first time in France but the inevitable rain commenced 
about the middle of the second reel and although we sat in the 
rain watching another reel, it then came down so hard that 
they had to call the show off. The different batteries in the 
regiment organized baseball teams and a series was begun w^hich 
was never completed owing to our sudden departure. This 
sport furnished good fun, however, while it lasted and the ri- 
valry between the batteries was very keen. As was previously 
mentioned there was plenty of opportunity for swimming in 
the Seine River and this was enjoyed more than anything else. 
Capt Howe Avas also a lover of this sport and was to be found 
splashing in the river at every opportunity. 

95 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 

We were only about eight kilometers from the big city of 
Chatillon-sur-Seine and passes to this town were issued fre- 
quently. Moving pictures were shown there and the many 
band concerts also afforded good entertainment. There Avas a 
good ball game scheduled about once a Aveek and Ave ne\'er 
missed an opportunity to see these games. Many dainties and 
necessities could be purchased in Chatillon at the Huts of the 
dit¥erent Avelfare societies, the Red Cross. K. of C, Salvation 
Army, Y. M. C. A. and JcAvish Welfare Board. All had canteen 
and rest rooms in the city Avhieh Avere A^ery largely patronized 
by the khaki warriors with a sweet tooth and I guess Ave all had 
SAA^eet teeth. A good "feed" could be purchased for a reason- 
able price at the ciA'ilian establishments and a long line Avould 
always be seen in front of the "Mairie." waiting to secure 
bread tickets Avhich Avere issued by the Mayor upon request. 
Permits to eat also had to be secured and the A. P. M. (Am- 
ei'ican Provost JMarshall) Avas the man Avhose tender mercies 
had to be prcA^ ailed upon to secure one of these coveted passes. 

About August 25th, rumors Avere rife that a big All-Amer- 
ican Offensive Avas coming in the near future. They Avere more 
than rumors; they were almost facts. About the middle of 
August there Avere enough American troops in France to form 
an Army. Hence, the first American Army Avas organized and 
the "Yankee Division," Avas one of the chief divisions in this 
Army. The 1st Army Avas composed of the veteran DiA'isions 
Avho had been on the front for somcdime and had taken a part 
in the Second Battle of the Marne. General Pershing, Com- 
mander-in-chief of the American Expeditionary Forces, person- 
ally assumed command of the 1st Army. American, French, 
British, Belgian. Italian and German military authointies and 
ncAvspapers noAv began to speculate as to AA-here the first Am- 
erican Army Avould operate, AA'hat their first moA^e Avonld be 
and principally hoA\' it Avould turn out. The individual Amer- 
ican fighting man had proA-en to the Avorld that he Avas as good 
and better than any fighting man of any country in the Avorld. 
The junior and line officers had also proA'^en that there Avere 
none better. Noav the big question came. What Avould the Am- 
erican staff and genci'al officerrs do? AVould they make a rec- 
ord in keeping Avith the individual American soldier's record? 

96 




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WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



Would they also prove that they didn't make them any better? 
These questions will all be answered in the next chapter when 
we carry them through their tests. 

Thus our becoming a part of the 1st Army, which certain- 
ly would do something soon, put us on the alert and every man 
quietly made his own little preparations for a return to the 
front. August twenty-seventh, gas masks were tested by Corp. 
Albert Noble, Gas Officer for the Battery. This was the cli- 
max ; we knew now that our stay here was to be very short. 

On August 29th, at 3.30 P. M. we left Obtree after four- 
teen days' extensive open warfare training. We hiked to Pol- 
con, the entraining point, where fifteen days before we had de» 
trained upon our arrival in this section. We camped in a field 
alongside the road all night. Early the next morning, August 
30th, one of our guides informed us that Battery B of our regi- 
ment had loaded in tAventy-eight minutes. Capt Howe later 
had this confirmed by Major Minot. He then said to the boys 
of C Battery, "Well boys, B Battery loaded in twenty-eight 
minutes, its mighty good time, but I've a hunch we can beat 
them." A general yell of, "Let's go," went up. And we were 
off, timed by Major Minot. We loaded in just exactly tAventy- 
five and one-half minutes. That was the record for our Bri- 
gade and it never was beaten. I dare say that it was the record 
of the entire A. E. F. and that no other battery ever loaded in 
a like time, before or since. In all our travels we never found 
anyone Avho claimed that they had equalled or beaten that time 
and I don't believe that it has ever been done outside of Bat- 
tery C. 

At 9.15 A. M. August 30th, we were on our way and as usu- 
al, did not know where we were going. One thing, however, we 
did knoAv and that was, Ave Avere going to some front for an- 
other drive and as in the jMarne Drive, Avhen Ave operated Avith 
the 1st American Corps Avhich Avas the first to operate at the 
front under a single Corps Commander, so noAv Ave Avere go- 
ing to operate at the front AAdth the next larger unit, the Army, 
the 1st American Army, Avhich for the first time Avas going to 
operate at the front under a single Army Commander. 



97 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 



CHARTER XI 

The Battle Of The St. Mihiel Salient — Massing For The Drive — 
Reducing Of The Salient 

According to the rumors Avhich were prevalent, we were 
on the way to Toiil, the Vesle and the Somme. It might be in- 
teresting to note that our real destination was not even di'eam- 
ed of. This will serve to show how very secret all such inform- 
ation was kept. At 10.00 P. ]\I. August 30th our troop train 
pulled into the freight-yard of a small village knov%ai as Longe- 
ville about five kilometers from Bar-le-Duc and stopped. De- 
training orders were issued at once and the job of unloading 
began. At 11.45 we were harnessed and hitched and ready to 
move. At this stage of the game the horses were in a very poor 
condition, although they had picked up wonderfully during the 
past three v>'eeks. The main trouble, now, was that horses 
were very scarce and we only had about one-half the author- 
ized quota. It was a big problem. All the non-commissioned 
officers and even a great many of the commissioned officers had 
been dismounted and their mounts put into draft. According- 
ly everyone except the drivers traveled from this time on. on 
'"'Shank's Mare." About 4.30 A. M. Saturday, August 31st 
after a thirty-six kilometer hike, the column pulled into a 
woods and halted for the day. We were now near the front 
once more. We did not knov/ exactly what sector, but sign 
posts along the roads informed us that the immortal city of 
Verdun, was only thirty kilometers distant. Another thing 
that was clear to us was that the 1st American Army, noAv in 
its infancy, was concentrating for a Drive and Ave were all anx- 
ious to get into this first Ail-American Offensive, planned and 
conducted by American oi^cers and men alone. Everyone was 
in the best of spirits and the morale was of the highest calibre. 
During this day there was no Avork to perform but routine duty. 
At nightfall we were ordered to hold ourselves in readiness for 
a move. A heavy mist fell over the Avoods Avhich made CA-ery- 
thing very Avet and damp. AVe did not pitch pup-tents, hoAV- 
ever, because Ave Avanted to be ready to jump at a minute's 

98 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

notice. Most of the boys slept under the carriages, but many- 
slept out in the open. This was no new experience for us and 
despite the dampness, everyone got in a good night's "pound- 
ing." 

By 6.00 A. M. Sept. 1st, we were on the road once more. 
The hike this time was but a short one of eleven kilometers. 
At 10.30 A. M. the battery halted in the town of Issoncourt 
and waited here until dark, Avhen once again we moved about 
two kilometers outside the town, into a woods above Isson- 
court. Here we worked until midnight, cutting bushes for 
camouflage and putting them around the carriages. We then 
made our bunks under the guns and wagons amid a pelting- 
rain. 

With daylight on SeiDtember 2nd, came the delinquent, 
smiling sun. As our duties were not very numerous this day, 
many of the boys paid a visit to a cemetery outside of Isson- 
court, where eight thousand brave Frenchmen lay, who had 
given up their lives for the great cause for which we were 
fighting, in the Battle of Verdun in 1914. 

AVe remained in these woods for four days. Every night 
during this period, Artillery of all calibres came up and camou- 
flaged themselves in the Avoods. Hundreds of thousands of 
rounds of ammunition, including all calibres from 75 's to 520 's, 
were piled here and there and everywhere and every night 
more and more were brought up. September 4th Capt. Howe, 
Leo Carney and Charles Miles, went up forward to reconnoiter 
our next hom.e and on September 5th at 6.30 P. M. we once 
more began to hike. At 6.00 A. M. September 6th we passed 
through the tovrn of Rupt-en-Woevre, and an hour later halted 
in the Rupt Woods, about five kilometers behind the front lines 
and made preparations to wait here until the big day. Every- 
thing was camouflaged perfectly, as secrecy was now the by- 
word because this drive vv^as to be if possible, a complete 
surprise to our mutual enemy the *'Heinnies." 

Every night the roads were crowded -with supply trains, 
ammunition trains, artillery of every calibre and Infantry, all 
of them melting away in the woods. During the day there was 
no sign of movement whatsoever. As this was to be a surprise 
attack on the Boche, it was absolutely essential that all work 
be done at night, so that Hun planes and observation balloons, 

99 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

M'hich were up frequently might not catch even a slight inti- 
mation that there was something afoot. It rained most of the 
time and although this was a hindrance to our work in a way 
and caused many difficulties in transportation, we welcomed it 
for once and it was at this time one of the most valuable of as- 
sets, because it made observation impossible and kept the Ger- 
man aeroplanes and balloons down. The work went on, each 
unit bent on getting their particular job done first. Our posi- 
tions had been assigned and during the long hours of the night, 
the boys worked diligently, constructing gun platforms and 
trail holes, laying telephone lines and establishing communi- 
cation, bringing up ammunition and supplies; in general, get- 
ting everything in readiness for the opening day. Always, as 
daybreak peeped through the clouds, all work would be con- 
cealed and all men would return again into the Avoods, 
awaiting darkness to go on with their labor. In some cases 
there were trees which obstructed the field of fire. These were 
sawed half way through, low enough so that the projectiles 
would clear them and left with just enough strength to keep 
them from breaking, so that when Zero day came it would only 
take a blow to break them off. 

The guns were taken up on the night of September 8th and 
camouflaged on the side of a road about one hundred metei's 
from the position. On the night of September 10th, the guns 
were hauled into position, by hand, placed on the platforms, 
put into position and all final preparations made for the open- 
ing of fire. By this time every place one went, there were guns 
and guns and guns. There seemed to be no end of them. We 
never before had seen so many guns of such different calibres 
iind styles and never dreamed even that there was so much 
ammunition in the world as there was around here. During all 
this time the Infantry patiently waited in the woods for the 
order to go in. 

Our position was on the top of a hill, overlooking the town 
of Mouilly, and just outside this village itself, about one-hun- 
dred meters in from the road. There were batteries in back, 
on both sides and in front of us. There certainly was going to 
be some fun when we all opened up. The 26th Division once 
again held a place of honor, having one of the hardest sectors 
on the salient assigned to it. We were placed on the left flank, 

100 



WITH FIGPITING BATTERY C 



about ten kilometers south of Verdun and northeast of St. 
Mihiel, at the point where the salient met the straight part of 
the line. The troops on our left were the 2nd French Coloniahs, 
the Yankee Division holding the extreme left of the American 
troops. It was to be our duty to attack with the 1st Amer- 
ican Division, which held the right flank, in the region of Toul 
and drive in a southeasterly direction in an attempt to flank 
the Boche, break in his flanks, close up the mouth of the pocket 
and shut all the Huns up in the salient. All along the salient 
the other divisions of the 1st Army were massing and preparing 
in a similar manner. 

Owing to the fact that September 11th, was a dark day 
and it was raining hard, there ^vas nothing to be feared from 
aeroplanes or balloons, so the gun crews and telephone men 
left the Echelon in the woods, about noontime, for the position. 
The time went along very slowly as we waited for zero hour to 
come. About 9.00 P. I\I. the telephone detail was ordered to 
consolidajte with the A and B battery details and lay a line 
from the Battalion P. C. to a shell hole, in No Man's Land, 
where Lt. George, the Battalion observing Officer would ob- 
serve the results of our fire. They were ordered to have the 
line in by twelve o'clock mid-night. It was a tremendous task 
and only three hours to complete it in. Besides, no one was 
exactly sure of the location of this shell hole. The night was 
terribly dark and it was raining hard, with the mud knee deep. 
The suicide squad had to go through woods where there were 
no paths, scramble over barbed wire entanglements and 
through swamps. Several times they were halted at the point 
of a bayonet or the muzzle of a machine gun as they passed 
some infantry post. It certainly was a nerve racking experi- 
ence, but the detail put the line through 0. K, and a sorry 
looking lot they were when they came straggling back to the 
position. 

At 1.00 A. M. that historic morning of September 12, 1918, 
every gun in the St. Mihiel salient opened up simultaneously 
and the first All-American Offensive was under way. Up to 
this time the sector had been very quiet, as it had been for the 
greater part of four years, but from this time on, it was as if 
all HELL itself had been let loose. My God! What a sight! 
What a thundering noise! What a picture it all presented! 

101 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 

What a scare it must have put into the unsuspecting Germans ! 
Oh! What wouldn't we have given to have been there and to 
have seen the look on their faces as that deluge came pouring 
•dov/n upon them. It was raining in torrents, but what cared 
the American Army for rain, when they ^vere driving against 
the barbarians of civilization. If one paused for a moment in 
'his toils to glance around, he would have seen fla.shes, heard a 
shell shoot out and whistle for the German lines from behind 
every tree and bush. 

A.11 this firing was merely the preliminary Artillery prep- 
aration. It lasted until eight A. M. There was not a single 
meter of the German front that had not been raked throughly. 
It was one of the most intense preparations ever laid down in 
the history of the war. Everything seemed to be playing in our 
favor at this time. The past two weeks, while we were con- 
centrating and massing and welcoming the rain and wanting it, 
because it prevented the Boehe from getting a line on what 
was going on, it had fallen in torrents. Now, when the drive 
was on and we were attacking and wanted good weather, it 
came. For, with daybreak the rain ceased and the sun shone 
brightly and soon had all the mud dried up. It seemed as 
though even the elements were out to beat the Hun. 

At 8.00 A. M. September 12th, we commenced our normal 
barrage. This was kept up until 9.00 A. M. when we started 
a rolling or creeping barrage and the Infantry went over the 
top. The work of the Infantry was comparatively light as our 
preparation had driven the Boche, either to the rear or into the 
dugouts. The mopping up wave took them out of the dugouts 
by the dozen, while the first wave advanced behind our bar- 
rage, fast gaining all the required objectives. The Huns, en- 
tirely surprised and unprepared, soon began a wholesale re- 
treat, abandoning guns, ammunition, clothing, equipment, sup- 
plies, stoi'es and in fact, everything that kept them from run- 
ning and running fast. An hour after the Infantry had gone 
over, prisoners began to flock to the rear in droves. There 
were a great many Austrians among them. 

About five o'clock in the morning, while the artillery prep- 
aration was still in progress, a German sacrifice battery opened 
up and began to shell the town of Mouilly, all the shorts (shells 
dropping short of their intended mark) landing on our posi- 

102 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



tion. One of these burst in front of some empty ammunition 
boxes, behind which Capt. Howe was figuring firing data. The 
switchboard and telephone were also behind these boxes and 
Sgt. Edward O'Leary, then acting as 1st Sgt. was at the battery 
position talking to Capt. HoAve and Sgt. William I. Hart who 
was on duty at the switchboard at the time, was also there, sit- 
ting on one of these empty boxes. The boxes were riddled with 
the splinters from the shell ; the head of the shell crashed 
through the box on which Bill Hart was sitting, whistled be- 
tween his legs and finally stopped when it hit Ed. O'Leary in 
the right arm, inflicting a terrible wound. His wound was 
dressed by Norraan Barteaux and Ed. certainly was game, for 
he walked all the way into Mouilly to the first aid station, 
from which he Avas later evacuated. Bill Hart Avas dumbfound- 
ed. He had just returned to the battery from the hospital, 
having just recovered from wounds received at Chateau-Thier- 
ry. He simply said, ''Well I suppose they'll get me good one 
of these days. ' ' 

About noon, September ]2th, the Infantry had gained all 
the required objectives for the day. The Artillery was now 
out of range and ceased firing. We immediately prepared to 
advance. Because of the fact that we were on the flank, our 
advance M'ould be but a short one. The troops in the center, 
would have the longest advance to make, but on the other hand 
they would meet with little opposition. The guns were hauled 
off the platforms and the limbers summoned, but the roads 
were in such a condition that it was impossible to transport 
artillery over them. Before the roads were even securely held, 
the 101st Engineers, were on the job with picks and shovels and 
the work that they did here was marvelous, but it was an impos- 
sibility to have the highways repaired this day, so Ave remained 
where we Avere all night, Avith guns, limbers and all other equip- 
ment ready to moA^e at a moment's notice. 

The Infantry, after gaining all their required objectiA^es, 
received orders to folloAA^ up the attack in the direction of Hat- 
tonchatel and stop when they got there. The 1st DiAdsion driv- 
ing from the south, in the Mont-Sec region and the troops in 
the center, Avere also ordered to drive for Hattonchatel. Hat- 
tonchatel Avas on the edge of the Woerve Plain and about equal- 
ly distant from both flanks and the center ; hence, if a meeting 

103 



SMASHING THROUGPI THE ''WORLD WAR' 



of all three elements could be brought about at Hattonchatel, 
the reducing of the salient would be completed. On the morn- 
ing of September 13th, the Infantry of the 26th Division en- 
tered Hattonchatel ; a short time later, the advance patrols of 
the 1st Division entered the city, closely followed by detach- 
ments driving from the center of the salient. Hence, Victory 
was assured. 

At 4 :10 P. M. September 13th, Battery C left the position 
near Mouilly and after an advance of about ten kilometers 
went into a ncAv position, just outside the town of St. Maurice. 
All day the day of the thirteenth, great numbers of prison- 
ers kept pouring in. On all sides it was very evident that the 
Offensive had been a complete surprise to the Germans. They 
had abandoned a great many field pieces. Many of these had 
been destroyed before they retreated, but on the other hand 
there were a great many that they did not take the time to 
destroy. There were large stores of munitions of all kinds: 
supplies, clothing, foodstuffs, tools, small arms, rifles, machine 
guns and other equipment in abundance. One of the things 
that impressed us the most, however, was the cemeteries. There 
were a great number of German cemeteries all through here 
and the graves were marked with large, costly, magnificent 
headstones and monuments. 

The 26th Division had liberated over a dozen French 
towns, and thousands of French citizens who had been held 
prisoners for four long years. When the Infantry went through 
these toA\ais, the civilians did not know what to make of them, 
as they had never seen the Americans before and did not know 
that we were in the war as the German authorities kept all this 
from them. When we told them that we were Americans and 
that we were in it 2.500,000 strong, they were overcome. The 
girls threw their arms around our boys, the older people re- 
joiced and civilians and soldiers together celebrated. Every- 
thing that we wanted was ours for the asking. They invited 
us into their homes and nothing was too good for us. One of 
the best captures to many of the tired thirsty Americans was 
a German Brev.^ery near St. Maurice that was well supplied 
Avith good German beer. There was also a large amount of 
cigars taken here and almost every man in the division smoked 
for the next Aveek on the Boche. A supply house Avas taken 

104 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

that had enough German sweaters to equip half our division 
and we paraded around in these until the Officers, acting under 
orders, confiscated them. The division had taken over 2800 
prisoners, a great many field pieces of all calibres and huge 
quantities of rifles, machine guns, munitions, railroad material 
and rolling stock. 

The first ALL-MIERICAN OFFENSIVE planned and car- 
ried out solely by American officers and men had been a won- 
derful success. The American staff and general officers had 
set a record, in keeping with that already made by the indiv- 
idual American soldier. The entire American Army, from the 
lowest, "Buck," private to the Commander-in-chief had proven 
to the world that there were none better. 

In two days the 1st American Army, in their first drive, 
had made a wonderful record and won a glorious victory. For 
four long years the St. Mihiel salient had jutted into the Allied 
lines and been a great menace. Several times the French had 
tried to reduce this salient and straighten out the line, but had 
failed. In less than two days the Americans had completed an 
enormous task, that no one thought possible. Our casualties 
were very light ; we inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy 
and had taken 15,000 prisoners, a larger number than had ever 
been taken before in a similar length of time. 

The following AMERICAN COMMUNIQUE, issued on 
September 15, 1918, sums up the spoils of the American Victory 
at St. Mihiel. 

15 Sept., 1918. 
4 o'clock Communique. 

AMERICAN OFFICIAL 

In the St. Mihiel sector, our advance units have maintained 
touch with the enemy's forces and have repulsed counter- 
attacks attempted by them in the region of Jaulney. We are 
now able to estimate the success obtained during the two pre- 
vious days. The dash and vigor of our troops and of the valient 
French divisions which fought shoulder to shoulder with them 
is shown by the fact that the forces attacking on both faces of 
the salient affected a junction and secured the results desired 

105 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR' 



within 27 hours. Besides liberating more than 150 square miles 
of territory and taking 15,000 prisoners, "\ve have captured a 
mass of material ; more than 100 guns of all calibres and hun- 
dreds of machine guns and trench mortars have been taken. 
In spite of the fact that the enemy during his retreat burned 
large stores a partial examination of the battle-field shows that 
great quantities of ammunition, telegraph material, railroad 
material, rolling stock, clothing and equipment have been aban- 
doned. Further evidence of the haste with which the enemy 
retreated, is found in the uninjured bridges, which he left be- 
hind. French pursuit, bombing and reconnaissance units divid- 
ed with our own air service the eontrol of the air and contribut- 
ed materially to the success of the operation. 



EIFFEL TOWER 

The foUoAving tribute was sent by a Catholic priest in the 
village of Rupt-en-Woerve, to General Edwards, after the divi- 
sion had driven the Germans back onto the Woerver Plain. It 
will help to show the light in which the French regarded the 
Americans, especially the 26th Division. 

**Sir, your gallant 26th American division has just set us 
free. Since Sept. 1914, the barbarians have held the heights of 
the ^leuse, have murdered three hostages from Mouilly, have 
shelled Rupt, and on July 23rd 1915, forced its inhabitants to 
scatter to the four corners of France. I, who remain at my lit- 
tle listening post upon the advice of my Bishop, feel certain, 
sir, that I do but speak for Monseigneur Ginisty, Lord Bishop 
of Verdun, my parishioners of Rupt, Mouilly and Genicourt 
and the people of this vicinity in conveying to you and your 
associates, the heartful and unforgetable gratitude of all. 

"Several of your comrades lie at rest in our truly Christian 
and French soil. Their ashes shall be cared for as if they were 
our own. We shall cover their graves with flowers and shall 
kneel by them as their own families would do, with a prayer to 
God to reward with eternal glory these heroes fallen on the 
field of honor and to bless the 26th Division and generous 
Americans. 

106 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



"Be pleased, sir, to accept the expression of ray profound 
respect. ' ' 

A. Leclerc. 

General Bland! at, commander of the 2nd Colonial Army 
Corps, French, who operated on our left, during the St. Mihiel 
Offensive said in General orders : 

**The spirit of sacrifice and magnificent courage displayed 
by the troops of the 26tli United States Division on this occa- 
sion were certainly not in vain : they seem to me worthy of re- 
compense and praise ; therefore, I direct the General comman- 
ing this division to address propositions to me on this subject." 



A DUD 

On out-post guard while ''over there," 
A shell came screaming thru the air; 
And yet before I could retreat, 
It landed there just at my feet ; 
I closed my eyes and thru my mind 
The things I'd done in years behind 
Rushed madly thru. My good intent 
Seemed ruthless in the years I'd spent. 
I groaned aloud in inward strife. 
And wished I'd lived a better life. 
My folks at home I seemed to see, 
How saddened by my death Avould be. 
Then yet again perhaps this shell 
Might only wound, who then could tell? 
I saw myself without a leg; 
Would I have crutches or a peg? 
Suppose that I should lose an arm, 
Colcl drops of sweat formed on my brow ; 
Would it explode? Oh, when and hoAv? 
I cast my eves down at the mud ; 
There laid the shell. IT WAS ONLY A DUD. 
By Regt. Sgt. Maj. S. SPARKS. 

A. E. F. France. 

107 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR' 



CHAPTER XII 

A So-Called Rest — The Troyon Or New England Sector — 
Marcheville And Riaville 

After the St. Mihiel Offensive, a new line was organized on 
the heights overlooking the Woerve Plain. The Germans or- 
ganized their new line some 7 or 8 kilometers out on the plain. 
Although our main line ran along the heights on the Western 
edge of the plain, we had outposts, for some distance out on 
tlie flats, in the towns of Wodonville, Hanonville, Fresne-en- 
Woerve, Ancemont, Billy, Soulx and Herbeuville. We also had 
several Batteries out on the plain. 

About noon Sept. 14th, Battery C once more pulled out of 
position, and left the position on the outskirts of St. ]\Iaurice 
and moved about 2 kilometers more, forward, taking up a place 
in an old German position in a thick woods about one kilometer 
north of Dommartin. Two guns, 88 's had been abandoned by 
the Boche and remained in this location. 

We were now only in reserve, supposedly for a rest. It 
was somewhat of a rest, at that, for the reason that we did 
very little firing ourselves, but the Huns kept us on the jump 
by constant high explosive, gas and aerial bombardments. 
Most of this supposed rest was spent in moving to new posi- 
tions. 

We left the woods North of Dommartin at 7 :00 P. M. Sept. 
15th. We went through St. Remy and Dommartin and took 
up a new position on top of a hill looking out over the Woerve 
plain, in another old German battery location about 2 kilo- 
meters East of St. Remy. This was different from the last four 
positions in that, there were dugouts here. The only firing 
which we did from this place, was one normal barrage, at 5.05 
A. M. Sept 16th, which repulsed a local counter-attack of the 
enemy on our front lines. 

At 7:30 P. ]\I. Sept 36th, we once more harnessed and 
hitched, resigning our positions here to the 101st F. A. After 
a hike of 5 kilometers, through St. Remy and Les-Eparges, we 
took up another position in the Les-Eparges Valley, about 100 
meters in rear of Les-Eparges. 

108 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



We remained here about a week, during which time we 
did but little firing. Every night we were subjected to lengthy 
bombardment. The food all this time was very poor indeed. 
The inevitable rain set in once again and made things very 
miserable. We were living in pup-tents and the result was that 
we had a wet bunk every night, but such a small matter as this 
could hardly phase us now. While in this position, we prepar- 
ed no less than six times to move, only to be halted just as we 
were ready to pull out of the position. 

On Sept. 23d, we left the position in rear of Les-Eparges 
and moved 2 kilometers forward, to a place, in a small woods, 
on the side of a steep hill, on the very edge of the Woerve plain, 
about 3 kilometers directly West of Fresne-en- Woerve. The 
only na.tural concealment from the plain, at this position, was 
a small clump of trees, in front of the guns. We relieved a 
French Battery here and after a week of duty in reserve, our 
Christian Science — rest was at an end and we Avere once more 
actively taking a part in things. The French called this the 
Troyon Sector, but the Yanks of the 26th named it the New 
England Sector. 

This new position was the best of any that we had oc- 
cupied on this sector as far as dugouts and personal comforts 
went. The dugouts, were in the side of a hill and fairly shell 
proof. There was also a running spring nearby where we could 
get good drinking and washing water. The approaches to the 
position were terrible, however. There were no roads, simply 
a pajth, and the rain and constant traveling over this, had made 
it a mud path, with the mud two feet deep for a stretch of 500 
meters. The horses Avere unable to pull the guns in here, so 
each carriage had to be taken in by hand. We commenced at 
9 :00 o'clock at night to bring the guns in here and at daylight 
next morning we were hardly ready to open fire. 

Difficulties were also experienced in bringing in supplies 
and ammunition as they had to be carried by hand almost half 
a kilometer. Sgt. Killelea who was now acting 1st Sgt. at the 
Battery position, had charge of this work and notwithstanding 
the immense difficulties, he did a fine job and is entitled to 
much credit for the manner in which he handled things. 

_ Up to the time that the St. Mihiel Drive commenced, this 
entire front had been very quiet. Now it was one of the most 

109 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR' 



active on the whole Western theatre of war. AVe were at all 
times subjected to heavy and extended bombardments of H. E. 
and gas and our guns were barking out day and night. 

We had two casualties in this sector, Pvt. Percy Crawford 
was slightly wounded in the head and Pvt. Harry Brown was 
more seriously vrounded, being badly cut up. Every incident, 
no matter how grave, always has its humorous side and such 
was the case in this. Percy Crawford was outside of his dug- 
out, Avith his helmet off, when a shell burst, a considerable 
distance away. One of the splinters which had almost spent 
its velocity, bounced off Percy's head, inflicting a very slight 
wound. Percy felt a little sting and cried out, "Well vv'hat do 
yer know about that, a splinter bounced right off my head and 
didn't hurt me." 

A moment later, however, a stream of blood told him that 
it did cut him a little and as a result Percy went around for a 
couple of weeks with his head bandaged up. If he had had his 
helmet on, he never would have received even a slight injury 
and this only went to show what more serious effects might oc- 
cur. At this time the boys had grown rather slack in regard 
to the wearing of helmets and carrying gas masks in the alert 
position. Orders were now issued and rigidly carried out that 
any man, who was caught outside of his dugout without a hel- 
met on and a gas mask in the alert position, would be court- 
martialed. 

Observation posts were established on the tops of hills and 
when the weather was clear, excellent observations of the Hun 
lines were afforded. AVe could look out over the AVoerve plain, 
22 kilometers wide and with the aid of field glasses and scis- 
sors instruments, see the heights on the other side. The big 
manufactui'ing cities of Etain and Conflans, 20 kilometers 
away, could easily be seen and the smoke rising from the chim- 
neys told us that the Germans were working the factories for 
all they were worth. Almost every movement of the Germans, 
on the plain, could be seen and they were carefully watched. 
Our observation post alone, recorded the location of 11 German 
batteries and 3 balloon centers. AVe had a decided advantage 
over the Boche, owing to the fact that we held the heights and 
they were out on the plain below. Their only observation was 
by balloons and aeroplanes. The German aviators were very 

110 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

active and bombing planes came over our lines, dropping their 
deadly missiles every night. During the day our aviation ser- 
vice was kept busy, chasing and battling with the enemy re- 
connaissance planes. 

As was previously mentioned this sector was now very 
active after almost four y&ars of comparative quietness. Al- 
most every day we carried out a local operation or repulsed 
an enemy attack. Enemy artillery was very active at all times. 
The biggest operation launched by us, commenced about 4 :00 
A. i\I. Sept 2Gth. It was what is termed as a diversion. As the 
hold on the new line after the St. Mihiel Offensive became 
secure, American divisions began to concentrate in the Ar- 
gonne Forest, near Verdun, to launch another offensive against 
the Boche. Nov/ that Ave had them on the run, Ave were going 
to give them no rest. Our positions, at this time Avere about 10 
kilometers South of Verdun. The American-Meuse-Argomie 
Drive Avas not to extend doAA-n as far as our sector, but the idea 
of the diversion Avas to make the enemy believe that it Avas to 
extend all along the front. This Avas planned in order that they 
Avould not send the troops opposite, Avho Avere some of the bCvSt 
Prussians DiA'isions, up to Avliere the real drive Avas coming off, 
to stem the tide and attempt to break up our advance. Con- 
sequently, at the same moment that the Meuse-Argonne Offen- 
siA'e, in Avhich Ave Avere later to take such an important part, 
commenced, Ave also laid doAvn a heavy artillery bombardment 
principally on the toAv^ls of Marche\dlle and Riaville and the 
Infantry a fcAv hours later, just at daybreak, under cover of a 
dense fog, sallied forth onto the plain and entered the Adllage 
of j\IarcheAdlle and then proceeded to RiaA'ille. Their orders 
Avere to take the tOAA'ns, hold them all day and capture prison- 
ers. The operation Avas entirely successful and accomplished 
every objective, although at the cost of large casualties on our 
side. The tAvo toAAais Avere held against several concentrated, 
counter-attacks of the enemy and despite the fact that the 
Boche, kept a continual, artillery fire on the toAvns all day, the 
doughboys stuck to their job. According to program, the tAvo 
villages Avere evacuated at dark and our troops AAdthdrcAV to 
the former line. On Oct. 11th, 1918, Ave once again pulled out 
guns out of position, shouldered packs and began a long march, 
AA-hich AA^as ultimately to end at the front, once more, this time 
for our last crack at the Boche, in the Meuse-Argonne Offen- 
sive. 

Ill 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "AYORLD WAR" 

CHAPTER Xni 

Verdun — Meuse — Argonne — Armistice 

When the Battery learned they were to enter Verdun, ex- 
citement Avas at its highest point and there was more interest 
shown in going to Verdun than in going to Paris. We wanted 
to see the ** Holiest Ground," of France where lay thousands 
of her heroic dead ; where that boasting idiot, the Crown Prince, 
found that the French were prepared to steep the valley with 
mangled bodies and that no sacrifice was too great for the sons 
of France ; and in that great meeting place of the dead, the 
Sons of America met their French comrades and showed that 
they, too, were willing to Carry On, and if need be drench the 
valley with their blood. The Poilu declared to the world, 
' ' THEY SHALL NOT PASS, ' ' and they never did. Yanks and 
Poilu lie side by side in Verdun and thousands more of Amer- 
ica's Sons were there to see that they did not pass." 

The battered and ruined city, was in the same condition 
as Yi3res, Louvain and Rheims, standing as mute testimony of 
what Boche Kultur had done for the world. As pictures of 
these ruined cities pass before the mind's eye, one wonders 
what is the meaning of the attitude of the Hun Delegates, to 
the Peace Conference, whining that this and that clause is too 
severe. If the question of the Armistice had been submitted 
to the Allies troops, holding the line, on that memorable Novem- 
ber 11th, — even with all their hardships and sufferings, we 
think the answer would have been, ''Carry On." 

October 11th 1918, Battery C was relieved by the 113th 
IT. S. Field Artillery. The same method of travelling at night 
Avas adopted. The roads, torn by mines, shells and bombs, were 
being repaired by engineers, with rocks and logs of Avood, so 
that the Artillery could travel over them. 

After a month's separation, the guns and crcAvs being at 
the front Avhile the horses were at the Echelon, the battery was 
again reunited, at Rupt-en-AVoerve. No rest Avas given here 
for they started on a thirty-five kilometer hike AA^hich ended in 
the Sartelle Woods. The men and horses during this period 

112 




Upper Left: Mec. Frank Hayes and Cpl Charles Connors, Toul 
Sector ; Upper Right : All ready for a trip in a box car ; Center Left : 
Special detail or telephone dugout, Chemin-des-Dames Sector; Center 
Right, Sgt. Frank J. Killilea at switchboard in telephone dugout, Toul 
Sector; Lower Left: Ben Poole and Harry Poole, off on permission, 
2nd class coach; Ed. D. Sirois, during ga.- attack Toul Sector, note 
210 dud. (Photos by Authors.) 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

suffered the worst privations of the whole war. Horses died 
by the seoi-e, due to the strain they were under and the men 
were exhausted, but with that indomitable spirit of the 
"YANKEE DIVISION," they kept going. On October 13th 
the Battery relieved a French Battery in the ^voods north of 
The city of Verdun. Preparations were being made for us to 
take our part in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. 

The German artillery were very active, at this time, and 
the American artillery were subjected to heavy shell fire. Oc- 
tober 20th the battery was compelled to move to a new position 
further north, but still the incoming fire was unabated, 
"Heinie" Avas off on his range, however, and secured but few 
direct hits, although he tried hard to neutralize the American 
Artillery. It was at this position that John Kavanah was 
severely wounded. He was struck in the left shoulder by a 
shell fragment that tore a big piece out of that part of his body. 
He was immediately evacuated. 

Sunday, November 3, the battery moved again, two kilo- 
meters further doAvn the road, as it was believed that our posi- 
tion had been located, from the intense fire received at this 
point. It M-as during the stay in this position that one of the 
boys of the Battery, Bill Ruediger, lost his foot from a fragment 
of a shell and several other Battery boys were wounded. 
Severe fighting continued, from that time on, until Saturday, 
November 9th, when the battery advanced about five kilo- 
meters. Sunday, November 10th, in the afternoon, rumors were 
rife that an Armistice was going to be declared. Few believed 
it however, thinking that some "Wise Guy," was raving; 
others thought that it was German propaganda. ToAvards 
evening, the Officers began to talk of the rumor and all agreed 
that this was a HELL of a time to sign an Armistice Avhen 
things were coming our way. The men on guard that night, 
were doubly careful, never for a moment relaxing and ready 
to pull the lanyard on the guns, at the sight of the proper rock- 
et from the Infantry. 

November 11th arrived and at 7.30 A. M. our doughboys 
called for a barrage and we sure gave them one and it cer- 
tainly did not look like peace in that sector, for a while at least. 
About 10.30 A. M. definite word was received that hostilities 
Avould cease at 11.00 o'clock. Then began a series of confer- 

113 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

enees among the members of the various gun crews. They gath- 
ered in small groups discussing which section Avould lire the 
last shot. Each section wanted to be the last; every trick was 
to be resorted to. A few minutes before the fateful hour, or- 
ders were given to suspend fire. The orders to load were then 
given to the four guns and promptly at 11.00 o'clock Capt. 
Howe raised his arm over his head and gave the command fire ; 
not a shell left the gun ; this was repeated the second time with 
the same result; the third time the guns flashed and amid the 
roar, four shells flew through space on their way to the German 
lines — the last shots fired by Battery C in the world war. 

Shortly after, Captain Howe, Sgts. Eric Borton, David 
(Darby) Yule and Private Eddie Lavin were on their way to 
explore the German lines. This little adventure almost ended 
in disaster as will be shown later. About twelve o'clock, the 
party was five kilometers behind the German lines, Avalking 
along a road when about forty German soldiers, in charge of 
a German Captain appeared on their way to perform some task. 
Other German soldiers were standing outside dugouts along 
the roadside, when some of their number started to throw mud 
and dirt at our party of explorers. Captain Howe was for 
fight right on the spot and he told the German Captain so. 
The German officer resented this and as he approached the 
party, it was easily seen that he was under the influence of 
drink. In his party was a corporal, who spoke a little English 
and he tried to act as interpreter. Through him they learned 
that his reason for being fiery was that our party of Americans 
Avere armed, each member of the party still having his pistol 
around his waist. The German officer insisted that they be 
made prisoners but Sgt. Borton then saved the day. He could 
speak German fluently and when the German officer heard this 
he changed his attitude and the party returned to their own 
lines. 

Any person dropping into the battery position would never 
have known that the Armistice was in effect because the boys 
sat around the guns just as usual, waiting for the commands 
that were never issued. 

Besides Bill Paiediger's misfortune in losing his foot and 
several other lighter casualties, Jean Chenard, who although 
detached from the battery and attached to Headquarters Com- 

114 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

pany, 102nd F. A. during most of the campaign, at the front, 
was always looked upon as a battery C boy, he having served 
many years in the organization, including six months on the 
Mexican Border, in 1916, was killed in action while perform- 
ing his duties as reel-cart driver. It was sad news to all his 
pais and buddies in the battery, even more so that he should 
be called upon to make the supreme sacrifice, at the 11th hour, 
just as the fighting was about to terminate. 

That night was the one night of the Avhole war that will 
be remembered forever by the Battery, in fact by every man 
AA^ho was on the Western Front. It was a cold damp night and 
the boys gathered stray pieces of Avood and started bonfires as 
soon as it was dark. The strangest sight for any person to be- 
hold Avas the Western Front after dark on November 11th. 
What happened in our sector Avas typical of the entire front ; 
all the rockets, star shells and flares Avere collected, both on 
our side and the German and shot into the sky. A fcAv short 
hours ago, these same rockets would have been the call for the 
artillery to spread death and destruction in the German lines 
and the German's signals Avould haA'e meant the same thing to 
our men; noAv all this Avas changed; they Avere meaningless; 
these men, Avho for months, some of them years, had been 
denied the privilege of heat and light, Avere standing around 
huge bonfires, right on the firing line, Avatching the heaA'ens 
become illuminated AAdth the thousands of colored rockets. The 
Avar Avas over, but the true realization of AA^hat had taken place, 
during the past tAventy-four hours ncA'er entered any man's 
mind that night. They Avere filled Avith mixed feelings of joy 
and sorroAA^ Joy, that the horrible thing Avas OA^er, sorroAV, at 
the thought that Avhen Ave had the Huns licked to a stand-still 
that thoy could not carry on and finish the job, by planting 
''Old Glory" on the top of Potsdam's Palace. 

It Avas strange that the YANKEE DIVISION should see 
the closing days of the Avar in this sector AA^hich had seen the 
bloodiest battles of the Avhole war, THE DEFENSE OF VER- 
DUN. These Ncav England troops Avhose homes Avere the 
scenes of many bloody struggles in our early fight for recogni- 
tion and against a tyrant Avho had tried to enforce his ideas 
of Liberty and Justice upon a Liberty loving people caused 
more than one American soldier that night to think of the aid 

115 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 

given us by France, in our effort to Avork out our o^vn destiny. 

The war Avas at an end; our division had been in the line 
almost ten months, with very little, oh, so very little rest. The 
men had seen their Buddies killed alongside of them, others 
torn and shattered; they had seen the stretchers going to the 
rear, with their precious burdens of blood and bandages ; they 
had seen their idol, General Edwards taken away from them at 
a critical moment, from which blow they never recovered and 
which they will never forget. No Divisional Commander holds 
more respect from his men than General Edwards, the GRAND 
OLD MAN OF THE YANKEE DIVISION and if the time ever 
comes when the former members of the 26th Division, now civi- 
lians get the opportunity to show their beloved Commander 
how much he is thought of, all he has to do is to speak and the 
Old Fighting 26th will answer to a man. The night of Noveni- 
ber 11th will be long remembered. Most of the Yankee Divi- 
sion proceeded to the city of Verdun where a parade was held. 
It was a strange sight to see Poilu and Yank, Algerian and 
other French colored troops, from all parts of the world, 
marching through the streets. Several of the regimental bands 
furnished music for band concerts. The civil population, from 
near and far gathered to celebrate the event. There, amid Avild 
cheering and shouting the YANKEE DIVISION celebrated the 
last day of the war. They had seen more fighting service than 
any other division of the A. E. F. 

Two days later the Battery left the front, left the scenes 
of so many exciting and dangerous events and despite all the 
praise given by French and American Generals, the fact that 
our Infantry had complete confidence in our ability to support 
them was the greatest cause for joy. Many a doughboy has 
•said that with our artillery supporting them they would go 
through HELL itself. Our thoughts were now centered on a 
rest and then home. We had accomplished what Ave had \'0l- 
unteered to do; noAv that the job Avas finished Ave Avanted to 
return to GOD'S COUNTRY; Ave wanted to go HOIME. 

The folloAving letter congratulating the 26th DiAdsion Avas 
sent to General EdAvards by General Claudel, commanding the 
17th French Army Corps, Avith Avhom the Yankee Division, op- 
erated, at Verdun. General EdAvards received this letter the 
day he Avas relieved of command of the Division. 

116 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



"General — The reputation of your division preceded it 
here far ahead. 

"To all its titles of glory gained in fierce struggles, and 
only recently at the signal of Hattonchatel, it has added on the 
23rd of October a page which perhaps is more modest, but still 
does it great honor. 

"In a few hours, as at a maneuver, it has gained all the 
objectives assigned to it in the difficult sector of the Woods of 
Houppy, Etrayes and Sellea. This operation is evfdence indeed 
of superior instruction, mobility and will. 

"I do not know how to thank you sufficiently for your as- 
sistance, dear General, and it is my great desire to express to 
you all our grateful admiration for your splendid division, 
which thus has added its name to all of those who have fought 
to hurl the enemy back from the outskirts of Verdun." 

Gen'l Claudel. 



117 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 



CHAPTER XIV 

U. S. Army Service and Training School 
IN France 

While this is primarily a history of Battery C, we feel that 
a great majority of the civil population would like to know a 
little something of the hospitals and the Service schools, oper- 
ated by the American Army in France. Corp. McGinnis, who 
Avas wounded in July, 1918, during the Second Battle of the 
Marne, spent about six months in the hospitals, recovering from 
his wounds. During this time he was in no less than six hospi- 
tals. Therefore he is very competent to write a chapter on 
the first aid, evacuation service, hospital trains and hospitals, 
in France. 

While Corp. McGinnis is writing his chapter, I feel as 
though I should do something also, rather than remain idle. 
Accordingly, I will endeavor, to the best of my ability, to give 
the reader an insight on the Army Service and Training Schools 
in France. I feel as though I know something about these 
schools, four months of my time in France being spent in them, 
one month at a training school for non-commissioned officers 
and three months at a school, where enlisted men were trained 
and made officers, provided upon the completion of the course 
they could pass the required examinations. 

The principal duties of the firvSt American troops who land- 
ed in France, about June, 1917, Avere to learn the intricacies of 
French material, munitions and the rather complicated methods 
of modern trench Avarfare, so that they later on, could impart 
their knowledge to the troops which would arrive in the future. 
For instructors they had only the French officers and men and 
this at first caused a great deal of confusion, owing to the fact 
that all the Americans could not speak French and all the 
Frenchmen could not speak English. This difficulty, hoAvever, 
Avas soon remedied, by employing the use of interpreters. These 
first troops received their first training in the rear areas, then 
went to the front and received the real thing, on the spot, in 
action. 

118 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



As a result of this, when the 26th Division arrived in 
Prance there were a number of American instructors, sent to 
the different units of the division, to tell us what they knew. 
Each group of American instructors Avere, however, under a 
French officer, who supervised the training carried on by his 
American assistants. 

Building's were erected in the training camps, furnished 
with all the material and equipment necessary for the particu- 
lar course, which would be taught there. Classes were organ- 
ized composed of a certain number of men from each organiza- 
tion and a schedule of hours of attendance posted. These men 
would then report at the assigned hours to receive the instruc- 
tion. These types of schools were knoAvn as Service schools. 
There were schools for each branch of the service and each sub- 
division of that branch. For example — there were schools for 
the Artillery and seperate classes in telephone, signaling and in- 
strument work for detail men, gunnery and material for gun 
•crews and mechanics, driving and care of horses for the drivers, 
firing and map work for the officers, gas, gas mask instruction 
building of gun pits, dugouts, trenches and camouflaging for 
^11. 

When a division received a certain amount of this train- 
ing in the training areas they would then be sent to a quiet sec- 
tor, where they would receive extensive training under actual 
conditions. When a division left the training area for the 
front, the best qualified men in the different units would be 
kept behind to instruct the new troops, just arriving from the 
U. S. In this way, the corps of instructors increased, as the de- 
mand for them increased with the arrival of more and more 
Americans troops in France. 

It was soon found out that the demand for officers became 
greater than the supply. Men were graduating from schools 
in this country and receiving commissions, but in most eases all 
of these officers had to take a further course of training at 
French or English schools before they were considered capable 
of commanding or handling troops. The problem then con- 
fronted G. H. Q. (American Headquarters in France) of estab- 
lishing a source of supply of officers who could be quickly 
trained and fitted to operate with troops in a short time. Con- 
sequently, officers' training schools were established for all 

119 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

branches of the service. The Artillery Officers' Training 
School was organized and established in the old French Caval- 
ry School at Saumur, France. It is about this school that the 
basis of my remarks will be, it being the only officers' school 
that I attended, but if the routine and organization of this par- 
ticular school is understood, it will serve as an example be- 
cause the schools of all the other branches of the service were 
conducted in a similar manner. 

When it was found necessary to establish an Officers* 
Training School, the French authorities removed the personnel 
of their famous Cavalry School elsewhere and turned the en- 
tire school, buildings and equipment over to the Americans for 
use as an Artillery School. About twelve hundred (1200) fine 
French cavalry horses and saddle equipment which had been 
used at the school for cavalry instruction were also turned over. 

The school was situated about one kilometer from the heart 
of Saumur, which is a quaint and beautiful old French city of 
historical interest on the banks of the Loire River. The school 
proper consisted of one large building, facing lengthways to- 
wards the street with a large ell on each end and two extra 
large annexes. The grounds of the school were all enclosed by 
a twenty foot, spiked iron fence. Directly West, to the immed- 
iate left of the Main building, situated amid flowers, green 
trees and surrounded by beautiful lawns, was the school hospi- 
tal. 

The inside of the Main school building was not in keeping- 
vvith the beauty and splendor outside. Contrary to expecta- 
tions it was very rude, plain and rather dull inside. The en- 
tire building was made of cement, stones and marble. 

The first floor was given up to Officers, where the admin- 
istration of the school was conducted, telegraph and telephone 
exchanges, post office, saddler's and tailor's shop, quartermaster- 
warehouses, etc. In the center of the second, third and fourth 
floors were large lecture halls; the remainder of these floors 
being given up to school rooms and dormitories. In front of 
the school was a large open space, covered with sand, with 
beautiful flowering bushes in the corners. Here the different 
student units formed for reveille, retreat and other formations. 

In rear of the building was another larger space, well 
shaded by tall stately poplars and elms. Barracks and mess. 

120 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



halls were built here to accommodate the overflow from the 
building sleeping quarters; all students had their meals served 
to them in these mess halls. 

Directly across the street from the school was a big sanded 
park, called the Chardonnois, by the French, around which ran 
a race track. This sand covered park was used for drilling and 
reviewing purposes. Barracks were also built along the west- 
ern edge of the Chardonnois which were used when the num- 
ber of students increased to such an extent that the main 
building and the barracks in the rear were filled up. 

The northern half of this huge drill ground was partitioned 
off from the rest by a high picket fence. Inside this inclosure 
were built more barracks for class rooms, material and 
property sheds where instructions were given, also two mina- 
ture ranges where the students learned the principles of artil- 
lery firing before they went out for real practice with the guns 
on the big range, ten miles out in the country; and a park for 
enemy artillery used for instruction purposes and also one for 
American and French artillery. 

On three sides of the Chardonnois were monstrous stables 
and riding halls. Here the twelve hundred horses were kept. 
The riding halls were the joy of the good rider and the dread 
of the rookie. The equitation lessons given here were won- 
derful and no man could help but becoming a good rider, no 
matter how poor he might have been when he first went there. 
Many a tumble the good riders received as Avell as the rookie 
when the hurdling without stirrups began. There was more 
fun at equitation than at any other class. 

In order that the men attending the schools might have 
all the time possible for studying, French ladies were employed, 
as Femmes-des-Chambres. Their duties were to look after the 
wants of the men, clean the barracks, make up the bunks and 
in general do everything that the men themselves would other- 
wise have to do around the quarters. Likewise, the mess halls 
were furnished with dishes, it not being necessary to use mess- 
kits and the tables Avere waited on by girls who were Belgian 
refugees. In this way the men had every possible moment to 
attend to their studies. 

Once a month, four men who had qualified to a certain ex- 
tent and had showed aptitude in artillery work and handling of 

121 



SMASHING THROUGH TIffi "WORLD WAR" 

men were picked by the regimental commanders of each 
artillery regiment in the A. E. F. and sent to this school. 
The men to attend the schools for the other branches of the 
service were picked in the same manner. When the school 
first started about November, 1917, there were only about three 
hundred students in the school. Sgt. Leo Lacasse of Battery 
C Avas a member of the first class. However, as more and more 
troops arrived overseas and the number of artillery regiments 
increased, the number of soldiers at the school increased, pro- 
portionately, until the school finally closed on February 1, 1919, 
when there were twenty-two hundred enlisted soldiers on its 
rolls as candidates for commissions. The policy of sending 
four men a month, from a regiment was continued throughout. 

In the early days of this school as well as all other Ameri- 
can schools of its kind, the instructors were entirely French, 
the Americans at that time not being in a position to spare 
American officers for this work. 

The organization of the student body Avas as follows: — 
the entire body was divided into divisions of about two hun- 
dred men and named Div. A. B., etc. At the head of each of 
these divisions was a French Captain, Avho was in charge of the 
instruction and an American Captain whose duties were to take 
charge of the administration. By roster, each day, one man 
was chosen from the men composing the division and he served 
as divisional officer of the day. One of the officers in charge 
of a section acted each day as in.specting and disciplinary 
officer for the division that day. This officer also had charge 
of the mess for his division. 

Each division was again sub-divided into tAvo parts of about 
one hundred men each and called sub-division Al, Bl, CI and 
Sub-division A2, B2, C2, etc. These sub-divisions Avere in charge 
of an American or a French 1st Lieutenant. The sub-diAdsions 
Avere again divided into smaller parts called sections of about 
20 men each, making five sections to a sub-division and ten sec- 
tions to a diAdsion. At first, a French Second Lieutenant Avas 
put in charge of each section, but later on the section instruc- 
tors became all American Second Lieutenants. Tavo men chos- 
en by roster, from the section, AA-ere section chiefs and section 
officers for one Aveek, at the end of Avhich time tAvo more men 
would be chosen. It Avas the duty of these tAvo men to assem- 

122 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



ble the section, call rolls, report the absence of all men from 
classes and formations, march the section to and from class, in 
general, the discipline and supervision of the section came di- 
rectly under these men and they were held responsible for all 
breaches. The sections were known by numbers, which ran 
consecutively through from the first section of the first division 
to the last section of the last division. For example the first 
section Division A was section 1 the second section 2, the third 
section 3, the first section Division B Avas section 11, the second 
section Division B, Avas section 12, etc. and so on through the 
entire body. At all formations the sections fell in Avith their 
OAvn divisions ; the divisions forming as a unit. 

The course of instruction Avas of three months duration. 
After the first three months in the life of the school, a class 
graduated CA^ery month and a ncAV class entered every month. 
In the fall of 1918, seven hundred men Avere graduating and 
being commissioned every month. It Avas necessary to obtain 
a general average of 70 to pass and not less than TO in every 
subject, in order to pass the course successfully. Men Avho re- 
ceived a grade of over eighty-five per cent Avere kept at the 
school to act as instructors for future classes. Hence, in about 
six or eight months after the school had opened, the greater 
part of the French section instructors had been replaced by 
American officers. Many American Officers also assumed charge 
of sub-divisions. Not until December 31, 1918, hoAvever, did 
American officers assume charge of everything, even the posi- 
tions of Divisional Instructors and on that date all French offi- 
cers Avere relieved. 

The greater part of the students AA'ere non-commissioned 
officers, but a fcAv privates Avere also admitted. Every student 
was on the same footing regardless of rank. Many officers, 
some of very high rank including tAvo Colonels, three Ma.jors, 
one Lt. Colonel and seven Captains in my division, took the 
course, but they AA^ere considered to be no better than a Pri- 
vate so far as instruction and discipline Avere concerned. All 
men, not officers. AA'ere called "Candidates" and this Avas the 
only title that they ever reeeiA^ed. 

The course Avas a very hard and difficult one and the dis- 
cipline Avas extremely rigid. What really should have been a 
six or eight months' training Avas croAvded into three months 

123 



SMASHING THROUGH THE '* WORLD WAR' 



and one, in order to pass the course successfully, was forced to 
plug and study hard at all times. The first six weeks, it was 
absolutely necessary to sit up every night until the "wee" 
hours of the morning or one would be so swamped with work 
that he never would catch up. Almost every man who attended 
these schools was anxious to pass for several reasons. They 
had been picked out of the men in their organizations and rec- 
ommended as men who would be fit and capable of holding 
commissions with a little schooling. Accordingly, it would be 
kind of a disgrace to fail and then be sent back to their former 
organization, because although it was really no disgrace for 
anybody to fail to pass at the same time, one would have to 
stand a great deal of joshing from the boys. Another 
reason was that many wanted to make good for the sake 
of the folks at home. For these reasons and many more 
everyone worked hard and conscientiously lived up to the rules 
and regulations of the schools and when a man graduated from 
this or any other officers' training school in France you may 
be sure of it that he knew his business and that he was a sol- 
dier in every sense of the word. Because of the fact that al- 
most every one was very anxious to pass, things ran along 
smoothly and everyone kept the rules and there were no delin- 
quencies. As a result very few men fell down in the course. 
It was not that these few did not try, that they fell down, 
but simply because the course was too stiff. A man had to 
watch his every move, because demerits were given for even 
moving a finger while standing at attention. If you missed 
a formation you Avere given ten demerits and five for failing to 
salute an officer. Every time you turned you Avere given a de- 
merit for something or another and it only took twenty demerits 
to be expelled from the school, and if a man was not constantly 
on the alert, he could get that number in as many minutes. 

The French who are considered blasters of Ai'tillery, said 
that this school was the best artillery school in the world. 

The following is the list of courses given at the Saumur 
Artillery School : — 

]\Iaterial, Drill and Drill regulations 
Battery Commander's Course 
Field Service 

124 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



Preparation and execution of fire 

Aptitude for Command 

Deportment and conduct 

Topography 

Telephone — radio — telegraph 

Dispersion and ballistics 

Artillery 

Ammunition — shells — poAvder 

Equitation and Ilippology 

There Avere three branches of artillery instruction taught 
at Saumur, light artillery such as 75 's, heavy artillery, 155 
hov/itzers, and G. P. F. 's or 155 long rifles or railroad artillery. 

When there Avere enough American divisions in France 
to constitute an Army Corps, the first American Army Corps 
was organized and along with this, a system of schools, known 
as the 1st Corps Schools. These schools like the others were 
for all branches of the Service and were situated at Gondre- 
court. They were principally for intensive training of non- 
commissioned officers and commissioned officers but other ranks 
also attended them. The instructors were mostly Americans 
but a few French Officers assisted in the supervising of the 
work. The course was of five weeks' duration and all subjects 
in connection with the different branches of the Service were 
taken up. This course was hard and the subjects deep and the 
discipline was very rigid. Like in the officers' school a candi- 
date in order to pass had to study hard at all times. Men who 
graduated from these schools with high marks were recom- 
mended for officers' school. 

As the American Divisions arriving in France increased, 
more Corps Avere formed and new Corps schools sprung up 
everywhere. The School system of the A. E. F. was complete 
in every detail. The instructors Avere of the best and all things 
were done on a very systematic basis. All necessary equipment 
was provided for and the men attending received the very best 
training. Those in charge are to be highly complimented on 
the fine manner in which they handled this enormous problem. 
Without this system of schools the A. E. F. Avould never have 
accomplished Avhat it did. 



125 



SMASHING THROUGH TIffi "WORLD WAR" 

CHAPTER XV 

Wounded — A Peep Behind the Veil 

By AVilliam McGinnis 

At the request of many of my friends I have decided to 
include a chapter describing how it feels to get wounded and 
the sensation you experience on getting a peep behind the Veil 
of Death; also the care you receive in the hospitals of the A. E. 
F. My memory is not so clear today as it v/as almost a year 
ago when I started on a trip which almost resulted in my 
pushing up daisies or as our Indian friends would say, starting 
off to my Happy Hunting Grounds. I will state clearly what 
I do remember. July 23, 1918 at 10.45 A. M. I returned to the 
Battery from a little trip with the Infantry. I had been aAvay 
almost four hours, but gas, fired by the Huns and machine gun 
fire prevented me from attaining the object I sought or the ol)- 
ject the platoon of Infantry to which I had attached myself 
were seeking. Out of seventy-five men in the third wave going 
in, seventeen were killed outright by machine gun fire and sev- 
eral were Avounded. Gas (Chlorine) brought the casualties up 
to fifty-three men. When I reached the battery I decided to 
have a rest. My eyes were burnt and my throat was parched 
No amount of water seemed to quench my thirst; still I did 
not think that I was gassed badly enough to report to the dress- 
ing station for treatment. I was asleep about fifteen minutes 
along with Sgt. Clarence Davis, Corp. Eddie Sirois and Corp. 
William Hart when suddenly without the least warning I heard 
a terrific explosion. I was dazed for a moment and did not 
know what to do but as my vision became clearer I observed 
the branches of the trees overhead trembling and the leaves 
falling to the ground. The odor of burned powder seemed 
to choke me ; I seemed to be floating in space ; everything was 
turning red ; I was losing control of myself. I made an effort 
to stand up, but my legs refused to support me and I fell flat 
on the ground. I did not know that I was hit. I was con- 
scious of something having happened, but what it was I could 

126 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

not tell. I wanted to talk, but somehow my tongue was cleaved 
to the roof of my mouth. Peculiar sounds were running in my 
head. Soon, I felt a burning sensation in my chest, near my 
throat and in my left shoulder. My left arm was lying stiff 
across my chest and my head refused to move from right to 
left. I realized that something was wrong. I pulled myself to- 
gether again, but found I could not stand erect. However, I 
started off. I had no idea where I was going, but I felt this was 
no place for me. I wanted to speak to somebody, to_ learn 
what was the matter. I was afraid that I had gone insane 
from the concussion of the exploding shell. Someone in the 
Battery ran out and grabbed me. Sgt. Davis and Corp Hart 
were lying on the ground having their wounds dressed. When 
I saw the bandage being placed on them, the thought came to 
me in a flash that I was hit. This was the first time my mind 
had worked clear. Capt. Howe held me while Norman Bar- 
teaux, our first aid man, cut my shirt off so that he could place 
a bandage on. 

As the shirt lay on the ground there was no doubt in my 
mind that I had been bumped because the color of the shirt de- 
cided that question. A good drink of cool water was worth 
more than anything that I possessed in the world at that time, 
but water could not be found here. Someone gave me a cigar- 
ette and as I began to smoke all my worries came to an end. 
In the meanwhile, the doctor arrived and made out my field 
service tag, which was tied onto me, describing the nature of 
the wound. It was marked G. S. W. (gun shot wound) left 
chest and left shoulder. I also received an injection of anti- 
tetanus to prevent lock-jaw. I was placed on a stretcher and 
carried about three hundred meters to the rear, to a dressing 
station where Father Farrell and Chaplain Stackpole were at- 
tending to the wants of the bunch who had been wounded. 
The station was situated on the edge of a Avood and there was 
a continual stream coming out of these woods to this point, 
awaiting ambulances. My Buddie, Eddie Sirois, stayed with 
me until I was placed in the ambulance. We had been bunkies 
from the start and he Avas there to see me off. We were placed 
in the ambulance and started off, four in each car. One of the 
boys in the lower tier who was from the Infantry and who had 
a fragment enter his stomach died in the ambulance before 

127 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 



we reached the clearing station. This place was in an old 
church in a small village about eight kilometers from the front. 
Several operating tables were set up and surgeons with 
aprons covered with blood were attending to the worst cases, 
mostly amputations. Here I v/as tagged for evacuation to a 
hospital. There were several hundred stretcher cases laid out 
on the floor. The yard surrounding the church was also full 
of men, with bandaged heads, arms and legs. The groans of 
the severely wounded were terrible to listen to and above the 
cries of agony could be heard the everlasting cry for water and 
cigarettes. Two American aeroplanes circled over this house 
of misery to prevent Hun aviators from coming over and drop- 
ping bombs on the station, a popular sport indulged in by the 
average Hun flyer. Here and there you would hear an unearth- 
ly yell from a stretcher ; the medical corps men would run over, 
look at the case, shake their heads and cover the still form with 
a blanket and they would instruct the bearers to put that 
stretcher over against the wall. This corner was well filled; 
no sound came from here and no movement of the blankets 
was noticed; they were perfectly still and silent; this corner 
was reserved for the dead. Every so often a couple of stretch- 
er bearers would proceed to that corner and lay their silent 
burden, with the others; it was a horrible sensation. I was 
getting weaker, owing to the fact that I was bleeding quite 
freely. I distinctly remember a peculiar buzzing sound in my 
ears; everything seemed to change color; I took one hasty 
glance at that corner and made one supreme effort to pull my- 
self together, but failed and lapsed into unconsciousness. 

The following morning at 4.00 A. M. I heard voices at my 
head. I opened my eyes and saw strange forms running from 
one place to another. As I gradually regained my senses I saw 
the form of a woman all in white near me. She was moistening 
my lips with a piece of gauze dipped in Avater and placing wet 
towels on my forehead. I asked for a drink and then she spoke 
for the first time. She was speaking English; she told me to 
keep quiet, but in my semi-delirium, I could not understand 
why I should, so she left me. 

I saw that I was in a bed with white sheets and that there 
were other beds in this place. I sat up to see v.-hat was u-oing 
on. I could not understand it. Where was I? What had liap- 

128 




o 

H 
O 

Xfl 

o 

o 






w 



o ^ 
o ^ 

l-H 



O 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



pened? Why was it so quiet? Why had the guns stopped fir- 
ing? I saw myself in bandages, then I remembered that I was 
hungry; I had not eaten anything for over forty-eight hours. 
The nurse returned in a short while and making me lie down 
again rolled up my right sleeve and shot some liquid into my 
arm from a small syringe. She told me that I was going on the 
operating table and that she had given me morphine. I Avas 
soon back in the land of dreams again. Thirty-two hours later, 
I came out of the ether. OAving to my weakened condition it 
had taken me over twenty-seven hours to recover from the time 
ether had been administered. The next two days were critical 
days for me. I had the opportunity to just peep behind the 
veil, which separates life from death, but with good care and 
treatment I pulled through. I discovered that I Avas in Evacu- 
ation Hospital, Number Six, and that we were in the town of 
Meaux. As soon as I was allowed to talk to the fellow in the 
next bed, he told me how I had acted under the influence of the 
ether. As the other patients glanced towards my bed they were 
all smiles; I wondered Avhy; so he told me that in my delirium 
I had informed all and sundry that I alone knew how to over- 
come submarine warfare. I explained a new invention that 
was capable of wiping out the entire German Army and that I 
could not understand Avhy the Government would not accept 
my invention. I could only smile, but I felt embarrassed. He 
advised me to stay awake because while I was sleeping they had 
brought two new cases in from the operating room. They soon 
began to rave. I realized then what a good time the other fel- 
lows had had in listening to me. They were fighting their bat- 
tles over again, shouting for ammunition and ducking enemy 
shell fire. This was our only source of entertainment here, 
listening to the ravings of the other poor victims. The next day 
the doctor arrived to take out my stitches, four in the chest 
and seven in my shoulder. A few days later, I was evacuated 
to Evacuation Hospital No. 8, to await shipment to some other 
part of France. No praise is too great for the American nurses 
in Evacuation Hospital No. 6 Avhich was so close to the front. 
They Avorked day and night amid the most horrible surround- 
ings and may God bless them. I stayed in Hospital No. 8 two 
days, then Avas sent to the tOAvn of Dammartin Avhere our Bat- 
tery had unloaded three AA'eeks before. Here a British hospital 

129 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR' 



train from the Somme Front manned by British nurses and or- 
derlies, wei-e waiting for us. We loaded up and started for 
Bordeaux, nine hundred and sixty bed cases on the train. 

This was a wonderful trip. At all the big stations, French 
girls decorated the train Avith evergreens and flowers and 
cheered us. It was a wonderful reception. Two days later, we 
arrived in the beautiful city of Bordeaux and Avere taken in 
ambulances to Base Plospital No. 6, which was in a girls' sem- 
inary Avhich had been turned over to the United States Govern- 
ment for a hospital. It was a large set of buildings accommo- 
dating five thousand patients. Many shows and entertainments 
were provided for us here. After my wounds were healed, I 
was transferred to Base Hospital No. 22. This Avas a Mihvaukee- 
Wisconsin unit and a finer set of officers and nurses I never 
met in my life. A Avonderful spirit prevailed among all the 
members of this unit. The nurses Avere conscientious Avorkers 
and the doctors adopted the professional attitude as exists be- 
tween doctor and patient in civil life. JMilitary rank held no 
place in the ward. I saAv only one exception to this during my 
.stay in this hospital. A certain Captain, a pompous indiAddual, 
Avas in the habit of making a morning inspection accompanied 
by a little snipe of a first class medical corps sergeant who 
used to precede him and shout "attention." The Captain 
Avould pass through the Avard AA'ith more dignity than President 
AVilson. After he had departed the patients Avould roar, laugh- 
ing at the apparent satisfaction he expressed of the manner in 
AA'hich his inspection had been conducted. The American Red 
Cross did some fine Avork here. 

Later on I Avas considered fit to go on light duty. I Avas 
called before the disability board and classified CI. I was sent 
TO the Casual Camp for Avoundcd and sick troops at Blois. 
This camp Avas a Avonderful example of efficiency and common 
sense combined. We Avere alloAved out of the concern (bar- 
racks) every day from 1.30 until 9.00 P. M., no passes being 
issued. Each man Avas placed on his honor. This Avas a A^ery 
interesting city. Victor Hugo had Avritten one of his popular 
Avorks, "Autumn Leaves," in this city. Daniel Papin, co-dis- 
coA^erer of the expansion of steam AA^th Stevenson, Avas born 
here and conducted many of his experiments in his old home, 
Avhich is still standing and occupied. A remarkable fine castle, 

130 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



the Chateaii-de-Blois, in which Catherine-de-Mediei poisoned 
her victims, is right in the heart of the city, on a steep hill. 
There is a stairway in this castle that tourists from all parts of 
the world travel to and admire. Late in November, I was call- 
ed before the disability board again and reclassified. I was 
still ordered to light duty. I was sent to Brest and from there 
to the ancient capital of Brittany, Eennes, later on to Brest 
again where I rejoined my battery after close on to eight 
months' separation. 



VM 



SMASinXG THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR' 



CHAPTER XVI 

Awaiting Orders For Home 

Tlie period immediately folloAving the Armistice was the 
dullest and least eventful of our existence in "Sunny" (?) 
France. After the Armistice was signed and hostilities had 
ceased, we remained in the vicinity of the front for three days 
and then began our march to the rear. 

When the divisions were named for the Army of Occupa- 
tion to take their stand on the Rhine, until peace should be 
agreed upon and signed, the 26th division was ordered to be- 
gin at once the march over the territory being fast evacuated 
by the enemy, to the German frontier, but after eleven months 
of continuous fighting, on the front, as a shock division and 
after having been used in every conflict, without a rest, the 
division was, as a soldier would express it, "all shot to pieces." 
Man and beast were utterly exhausted and it was impossible 
for the division to take a part in this last operation of the 
American Army in France. If we had had the necessary 
amount of horses, we might have been able to accept this honor, 
but many of the units had only about one-third the number 
absolutely necessary for a move like this and these few animals 
were entirely worn out. Accordingly, the divisional command- 
er advised G. H. Q. of the prevailing conditions and asked that 
the 26th be relieved of this duty, at least for the time being. 
The request Avas granted. 

Thursday, November M, 1918, the Battery pulled up stakes 
m\d instead of heading for the Vaterland. we struck out for 
the rear, and after a hike of thirty-five kilometers, the outfit 
arrived at Beauzee. The stay here Avas only a short one as 
November 15th saw the whole regiment on the move once more. 
After hiking fifteen kilometers, we reached the village of Ville- 
avant-Belrain, which was the billeting place for the night. No- 
vember 16th another hike took place to Erize-la-Brullee. At 
this point a rest Avas called, which lasted four days in this 
village, at which time all material and horses Avere turned over. 

132 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

For the first time in fourteen montlis Ave were without horses 
and guns. We were not sorry to lose all this equipment as it 
made our work much easier. We would have liked to have 
brought our guns home with us, but this would entail a great 
deal of work and a gi'eat amount of shipping space, which could 
not be spared at this time. November 20th, 1918, the hiking was 
once again resumed and after a short distance a halt was called 
in the village of Salmagne. Of all the places we had been in 
France, this was the worst. The billets were very poor indeed, 
and it rained most of the time while there. Another feature 
which it had seldom been our unlucky lot to contend with was 
the inhospitable disposition of the peasants, in this village to- 
wards us. They were cold and hostile to all Americans, for 
some reason or other and we were very thankful that the stay 
was a short one. 

While in the town of Salmagne several of the men in the 
battery received the coveted, long-looked for and much talked 
of, furloughs. They went off for a seven days' good time to 
Aix-la-Bains, one of France's famous Avatering places, but it 
proved to be otherAvise. Several of the boys Avere sick Avith 
Spanish influenza and Joseph Charbonneaux after a short ill- 
ness, died in the hospital. 

With the ending of the Avar, the authorities Avere troubled 
as to hoAv they could make the men feel contented. Athletic 
events Avere ahvays popular in the army and they came into 
prominence at this time. Football, basketball and other events 
were arranged. We had little Avork to do, but it is true that 
this Avas the toughest battle of them all. There Avas very little 
to occupy our minds and time hung heaA^ily on our hands, ex- 
cept Avhen Ave Avere doing foot di'ill, calisthenics and long hikes, 
which usually took up the morning, the afternoon being de- 
voted to athletics. At Salmagne, football teams Avere organ- 
ized betAveen the six Batteries of the Regiment and a tourna- 
ment began, in Avhich Battery C proved to be the champions. 

Thursday, December 19th, Salmagne Avas a thing of mem- 
ory and after a shoi-t hike, Ave reached the toAvn of Ligny, 
Avhere Ave AA^ere immediately hustled into the familiar old horse 
cars, for a trip nearer to the Atlantic coast. The folloAving day, 
the train pulled into La Ferte-sur-Amance and here all de- 
trained. The entire 26th Division Avas noAv in the Chaumont 

]33 



SMASHING THEOUGII THE "WORLD WAR" 



Area. The city of Chaimiont, where General Pershing had his 
headquarters, was situated about fifty kilometers away from 
here. The following day we hiked thirty-five kilometers to 
Pouilly-Haute-Marne, which was to be our home for the next 
tAvo months. 

There was very little of note during our stay at Pouilly. 
AVe were now preparing for home. The chief duties were to 
get rid of the cooties, take care of our colds and sicl\np«sos 
contracted and build up our broken health as much as possible 
before going home. There Avas no work to perform, except 
guard and keeping the quarters clean. Everyone had the op- 
portunity to secure as much rest as needed. The football 
teams Avere again organized and the rivalry Avas keen. Battery 
B of Worcester Avas stationed in Pouilly Avith us. There Avas 
keen competition betAveen the battery teams. Boxing bouts 
were also arranged. Captain HoAve and Captain Page ar- 
ranged a fight betAveen Thomas Corcoran (Young Kloby) and 
Mulvey of Battery F. They began to train for a twelve round 
bout Avhich Avas fought about tAvo months later resulting in a 
Adctory for the LaAvrence boy. ShoAver baths Avere built in the 
main square in Pouilly and every day a certain section would 
have the privilege of using them. A delousing machine came 
to the toAvn and all equipment, blankets and clothing Avere put 
through it. This aided materially in ridding ourselves of these 
unAvelcome pests. We also i-eceiA^ed a considerable amount of 
new clothes here. One ncAV idea introduced to us at this time 
Avas the Infantry method of carrying a pack Avhich became 
A^ery unpopular. Noav that Ave had no horses, we Avere com- 
pelled, like the doughboy, to march in squad formation. 

At this time of the year it Avas A-ery cold. Some of the 
billets Avere furnished A\'ith stoves and they helped some, but 
the government issued just about enough Avood to keep the 
fire going one day each Aveek and there Avas a strict order 
against stealing or just merely taking the Avood, Avhich be- 
longed to the French inhabitants; consequently Ave had to buy 
the wood from them and pay a large price for it. The people 
in this tOAvn Avere very hospitable and soon made friends Avith 
us. Many, in fact most of them, had spare rooms, Avith great 
big French beds and many of the boys hired these rooms, for 
the small sum of one franc (about tAA^enty cents). They took 

134 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



us in as one of the family and all the privileges of their little 
homes were graciously extended to us. When we ate with the 
battery it became necessary to eat out in the cold and rain, as 
mess halls were a luxury unknown to us, but it was not often 
that we would eat outside, for we were almost always invited 
by the peasants to eat in their homes. They often requested us 
to partake of their meals, but we seldom accepted this privilege 
because it would be too much of an imposition on their good 
nature as food was very scarce in Prance and very dear. Quite 
often, however, we would have one of the grand old French 
Madames kill a chicken or a rabbit, cook up some "French 
fries" and set a supper for us, for which we always paid them 
liberally. 

There was one cafe in Pouilly, which had a large room in 
the rear, with tables, benches, stove and kerosene lamps. This 
Avas donated to the Battery as a club-room while we Avere anx- 
iously awaiting the order that Mould start us for the only 
country in the world. 

Christmas Day, 1918, our second Christmas in France, 
President Wilson visited the Yankee Division and ate his 
Christmas dinner with the officers and men, representing every 
organization in the division, at Montigny-le-roi, where division- 
al headquarters wei'e located. This was a great honor and we 
all realized the significance of it, for everyone believed, when 
they heard that the President had stated that it Avas his wish 
to eat Christmas dinner Avith the division Avhich had seen the 
most service in France, that he Avould have been escorted to 
one of our regular army diAdsions for the Christmas repast. 
This Avould have been entirely in keeping AA'ith other like 
events. This Avould not haA^e surprised us at all. On the con- 
trary, AA'^e Avere rather surprised to hear that he Avould be 
brought to a mere National Guard Division, to bestoAV on us 
this honor, on the greatest day of the year. 

The President received a Avorthy reception Avhen he arriv- 
ed at Montigny-le-roi and Avas received by a committee of offi- 
cers and enlisted men. As it Avas impossible to have a revieAV 
of the entire diAnsion OAving to the lack of a reviewing ground, 
capable of holding a full division, small detachments, repre- 
senting eA^ery organization in the division, were revieAA-ed by 
him. After the rcA'ieAv, he inspected the billets, at Montigny- 

135 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 



le-roi, where the equipment was laid out for inspection. A 
number of stories are told in regard to the happenings at this, 
inspection. One of them will serve as an example. Upon com- 
ing to a bunk with all the equipment laid out upon it, General 
Pershing picked up a tent pole, used for supporting pup-tents. 
He then demonstrated to the President how the pole worked 
and the uses of it. Finishing with it, he tossed it upon the 
bunk. The President then said, "General, place that pole back 
the way you found it, that man's bunk is supposed to be laid 
out for inspection and he will be called for having that pole 
out of place." The great General merely stooped and placed 
the pole back into its proper place. After the inspection^ 
Christmas dinner or as it was to us just plain mess, was served 
in one of the billets, and seated with Generals and Buck Pri- 
vates, President Wilson ate his 1918 Christmas dinner of 
"Army Slum." 

About the first of January, 1919, our long looked for bar- 
rack bags were brought into Pouilly from Sauereourt, where 
they had been stored for over a year. We had turned in our bar- 
rack bags about the middle of January, 1918, just before w& 
went to the front and had not seen them since. We had heard 
all kinds of rumors about them being pilfered and looted and 
we expected to find but very few, if any, of the valuables M^hich 
•we had put in these bags and we were not disappointed in this 
expectation. We were lucky to get the empty bags. A great 
many did not even get these. 

The stay in this area might be appropriately termed, the 
rumor period. Never before or since have so many different 
rumors been circulated. We were going home every day. It 
must have been almost as bad back in Lawrence, for every 
newspaper Ave received had glaring headlines, telling about our 
starting for home. It was not until two months after this that 
Ave received any orders in regard to sailing and Avere placed 
on the priority list. 

Another thing AA^hich Avas brought to our attention Avhile 
Ave Avere in this rest area, Avas the speech made by Congressman 
GalliA^an and his fight for the Yankee DiAdsion in Congress. 
At the time that Congressman Gallivan brought forth his; 
charges, in Congress, the entire diA^sion Avas boiling mad, on 
just these same matters Avhich the Congressman gave utter- 

136 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

anee to. The fact of the ease was that things were in just ex- 
actly the same color in which he painted them. He did not 
exaggerate at all because these injustices could not be exag- 
gerated. The Paris Edition of the New York Herald, the Chi- 
cago Tribune and the London edition of the Daily Mail, were 
full of this talk in view of Gallivan's address. It pleased us 
very much to see that the people back home were beginning to 
see a little might of the "raw deals" that we were getting and 
we got many of them at the hands of our "would be" regular 
army friends. 

We had read with pleasure, also, the columns of the home 
papers that found their way into our midst, of the arrival in 
the U. S. of our gallant Commander, Major General Clarence 
R. Edwards, the only man whom we ever recognized as Com- 
mander of the Yankee Division (even though we had two oth- 
ers. Brig. Gen. Bamford and Major Gen. Harry C. Hale) the 
"ONLY FRIEND THE NATIONAL GUARD HAD OVER 
THERE." We were overjoyed at the reception that our own 
New England gave our "Grand Old Man." He deserved it 
all ; it would be impossible to applaud him too much. 

On Jan. 21, we started on what we called the "first legs 
of the journey home." We left Pouilly about 8.00 A. M. and 
once again hiked over the road 35 kilometers to La Ferte-Sur- 
Amance, where about one month before we arrived from Sal- 
liiagne. We billeted in La Ferte for the night and the follow- 
ing day. This day was a sad one in our record. When Ave 
left Pouilly the day before, all men who were not able to walk 
Avere alloAved to ride on the trucks Avhich were carrying the 
extra equipment. Arthur Dyer, one of the most popular of the 
Battery boys, had just returned from a rather hard siege of 
illness in the hospital and was riding on a truck. The brakes 
on the truck on which Dyer Avas riding Avere very poor and on 
going doAvn a hill the brakes would not hold. The result Avas 
that this truck crashed into the one ahead and both skidded 
into the side of a building. All the men were thf^^vn off. 
Dyer Avas pinned under one of the trucks and crushed to death. 
No help could aid him. Cook William Carney broke his ankle 
and all the others received a bad shaking up and minor in- 
juries. Dyer Avas buried AAdth full military honors in the grave- 
yard of the little Catholic church in La Ferte-sur-Amance. A 

137 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

single white cross marked the grave. That evening at 8.00 P. 
M. we hiked eight kilometers to a railroad. We M^ere supposed 
to entrain that night but the trains were late. The night was 
very cold and there was nothing to do but wait in the cold for 
the trains to pull in. Captain HoAve, as usual, Avas not idle. 
There Avas a barrack nearby in Avhich our barrack bags had 
been stored and he secured this for us to rest in. This Avas a 
great relief from the cold. 

We remained in this barrack all night getting no sleep and 
little rest, because it Avas so cold and it Avas impossible to 
open packs, OAving to the fact that Ave did not knoAv at Avhat 
moment aa^c Avould be hustled out. At day-break, everyone Avas 
on the job; the cooks opened cans, made coffee and Avarmed up 
tomatoes and beans. Breakfast consisted of black coffee, to- 
matoes, beans and hard tack and AA^as served about seven A. M. 
Our train pulled into the freight yard about 8.15 A. M. and Ave 
immediately began to load onto it. All the kitchen utensils 
and other supplies Avere loaded onto the flat cars and the men 
Avere loaded into the horse cars. Our entire regiment Avas for 
the first time traveling on the same train. This Avas made pos- 
sible OAving to the fact that Ave noAv had no horses or material. 

These French horse cars are supposed to hold forty men or 
eight horses as the sign painted on the outside informs the ob- 
server. NcA^er before had Ave ever squeezed forty men into one 
of these cars and Ave did not believe that it Avas possible to do 
so, but AA'ithout exaggerating one iota, by actual count, there 
Avere anyAvhere from fifty to fifty-nine men packed into these 
cars for this trip and even in vicAV of squeezing this outrageous 
number of men into these little boxes, there Avas about one- 
third of the regiment still on the platform Avith no place to ride. 
Both officers and men Avere at their Avits end to solve the prob- 
lem as to where these men Avould be put. Possibly there Avas 
room on the roofs or the brake beams. HoAve\'er. these men, 
veterans of the Avorld Avar, soldiers of the greatest division cA^er 
formed in the United States Army, did not stop to think or 
argue; surely this Avas peaches and cream compared Avith the 
past eleven months on the front. So AAdthout a Avord, not even 
asking permission, buddies and bunkies got together here and 
there, stole up and carried off a bale of hay or straAA', despite 
orders to the contrary. Lt, Charlie Lannigan aa'Iio Avas in 

i;j8 



AVITII FIGHTING BATTERY C 

charge of this hay and straw of course had his back turned, 
apparently knowing nothing about what was going on only 
three yards behind him. The boys carried these bales to the 
fiat cars and spread out the hay and straw, making bunks. 
Packs were then opened, blankets taken out and the bunks com- 
pleted. Everybody was happy. Why not ? ^ Were we not on 
our way to an embarkation area and Avas this not the first lap 
of the Homeward Bound trip? 

About 9.15 the train pulled out. The trip was of two days 
and two nights duration. It was a trip that not one of the men 
Avho made it will forget in a hurry. The men who were in the 
horse cars were so crowded that sleep was entirely out of the 
question. The trip for those on the flat cars was an ordeal not 
easy to cope with. Dear reader, may I be so bold as to ask 
you to take a little trip with me? It will last only two days 
and two nights. We'll start in the dead of winter, about the 
last of January, with the mercury hovering around the zero 
mark. We 're going to travel on flat cars, that have no sides or 
protection of any kind. We'll get nothing hot to eat or drink, 
but poor water, hard tack, corned willy, canned tomatoes and 
canned beans. No, wait a moment. I'll take a little of that 
back; we'll make two stops, where, through no fault of the 
army, we will fare pretty well. Our trip will be from La- 
Ferte-sur-Amance to Mayet, France. One of the stops Avill be 
on the second day about noon time, at the city of Bourges, 
Avhere the American Red Cross, on the job as they always are, 
Avill give us a sandwich and a cup of good, grand, delicious 
American coffee with milk and sugar in it and some magazines, 
which we were too cold to read. The other stop will be about 
11.30 o'clock on the second night at Tours where once 
again the Red Cross will eonie to the rescue with hot coffee. 
That is the substance of our trip from the Chaumont area to 
the Le Mans embarkation area, a trip you may be sure will 
live in the memories of the men who made it as long as their 
memory lasts. 

About January 26th we arrived at Mayet in the Le Mans 
Embarkation Area, amid a flurry of falling snow. In half an 
hour we had completed the task of unloading and Avere on our 
way to billets in the toAvn. 

Mayet Avas rather a large toAvn, in fact the largest that 

139 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 



we had ever billeted in and we began to doubt whether they 
would keep us there or move us out to some smaller village, 
but for once luck was with us and we remained here. 

Up to this time Ave had received no definite orders in re- 
gard to leaving France for Home. Rumors were thick just as 
they always were. We heard stories of other divisions leaving 
for home. The fact that we Avere in an embarkation center 
told us, hoAvever, that Ave Avere soon to knoAV something definite. 
If it Avas the intention to keep us in France for a long time or 
assign some other duty to us Ave AAould not have been sent to 
this area so Ave all Avaited patiently. 



140 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

CHAPTER XVII 
Headed For Home 

The stay in Mayet was a rather long one and what was 
said about Pouilly, might also be said about IMayet. There was 
very little work to perform and our chief duties were to rid 
ourselves of the unwelcome cootie and get everything in readi- 
ness for home. Everywhere you went there was delousing 
equipment of some kind. Fire places Avere built and over these 
huge boilers put up, each section would then put their clothes 
through this steam process in turn. Flat irons were also pro- 
vided and after clothes were dried, from the steaming, they 
Avere sprinkled with creosote and then ironed. In this way, 
we soon compelled the unwelcome visitors to depart. 

The chief factor in the drilling line was hiking, which 
usually took the greater part of the morning. Rifles were is- 
sued, however, and we made a poor attempt to acquaint our- 
selves with the doughboys' art. The afternoons Avere gi\'en 
up to athletics. We had some AA^onderful inter-regiment foot- 
ball, baseball, soccer, and basketball games. 

There Avas considerable doing in the entertainment line. 
Several times moA^ng pictures Avere shoAA'u in the main square. 
The Y. D. and other diAdsional shoAvs and the entertainments 
under the auspices of the K. of C. and Y. M. C. A. Avere put 
on in the hall of the "Mairie," at Mayet. Band concerts AA-ere 
also frequent. 

Boxing was one of the chief sports. A huge platform Avas 
put up in the square at Mayet, by the mechanics of Battery C, 
and here about once a AA'eek some good fights Avere staged. 
One thing that AA-as noticeable in all these bouts, Avas the fact 
that Battery C Avas almost alAA^ays against all the rest of the 
Brigade. In almost every bout a Battery C man opposed a 
man from another regiment or battery. As Captain IToAve once 
said, "I've got them all AA'eights and sizes, put up your man 
and AA^e'll match him." Some of the battery's clever boxers 
Avere, Tommy (Kloby) Corcoran, Wilfred Cote, Oscar Cote, Al- 
bert Noble, Kid LeAvis, Walter Demers, W^illiam (Speck-Hun- 

141 



S.AI ASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR' 



gry) Donovan, John (Gummy) Manion, W^illiam (General) 
McClelland and othei-s too numerous to mention. 

It Avas here that Ivloby, our own Tommy, who is putting 
the old K. 0. on the best of them now, fought Mulvey of Bat- 
tery F, an ex-pugilist. The fight was to go ten rounds, but 
Kloby landed that old right cross of his on Mulvey's jav/ in the 
sixth and Mulvey hit the mat, in a manner similar to that in 
which Phinney Boyle and Charlie Parker hit it. Battery C 
had bet their entire payroll against Battery F's payroll and 
this Avith the money the officers had put up amounted close on 
to 65,000 francs or approximately $12,000 (dollars). You see we 
always backed the old boy to the limit and we're still Avith him, 
as the fight Avith Parker, in Boston, on June 16, 1919, proved. 

A short time after this, the AA'hole battery accompanied 
Tommy to Ecommoy, eight kilometers from Mayet, AAdiere he 
fought Stafford of DiA'isional headquarters five rounds. The 
decision Avas decided by tAA'o judges, Avho sat outside the ring. 
The man in the ring did not act as a referee, he simply broke 
the clinches. Kloby had the better of the fighting all the Avay 
through and even Stofford's supporters agreed that it was 
Kloby 's fight, but the judges called it a draAv. Kloby then 
asked that it go another round for a decision and it Avas 
agreed upon. This round Avas easily Kloby 's. Stofford didn't 
have a chance, but the judges gaA'e Stofford the decision. It 
Avas one of the raAvest decisions ever given out and it nearly 
ended in a mob fight. Kloby then got up into the ring and said 
*'I AA-ish to announce that I'll fight Stafford any time, any place, 
for love, money or the glory of it and give him the best piece 
of change he CA^er saAA^ in his life if he stays ten rounds Avith 
me." But Stafford did not accept the challenge. 

About tAvo Aveeks after this battle Kloby met Lajoie of tlie 
103d F. A. at Mayet and defeated him in 10 rounds. Try as he 
might Kloby could not knock out the hard-hitting Lajoie, but 
he did best him on points. Kloby then offered to fi-ght any 
number of rounds Avith Stafford after just finishing ten of the 
hardest rounds he ever fought and settle matters over their 
fight tAvo Aveeks' previous. Stafford Avas in the croAvd, but he 
did not accept the challenge. 

About the first of IVIarch Ave Avere put on the priority list 
for home. There Avere all kinds of rumors afloat as to AA-hen 

142 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



fve should leave, but most of them were mere heresay. Every- 
thing was put into readiness for the departure. Passenger lists 
were made out, service records looked up, supplementary rec- 
ords being made out to replace those which had been lost, final 
indorsements made, in fact all the paper work was cleaned up. 
There was no end of paper Avork and the clerks worked night 
and day for almost a month. It had been an easy matter to get 
into the army and to France, but it certainly was a tough job 
to get home and get out of the army. 

About the middle of March, the Division was canvassed to 
get volunteers to stay six or eight months longer in France, in 
the M. P.'s, Army of Occupation and other branches. About 
2000 Yankees remained behind. No one in Battery C stayed, 
however. 

While in this area, quite a few of the boys received fur- 
loughs and enjoyed a vacation at some of the famous A. E. F. 
leave areas. After 18 months in France we were just getting 
the long promised and long-sought furloughs. But at this time 
most of the boys were pietty well disgusted with the army and 
the only furlough they wanted was to get home and get a dis- 
charge, which would be a furlough for life. 

Just prior to leaving the Le Mans Embarkation Area, the 
entire division concentrated on a huge rifle range, just outside 
the town of Eccommoy, for a Divisional review. This was the 
first time in the history of the Yankee Division that the entire 
division assembled together for a review of all units. Previous 
to this time the 26th Division had no time for reviews and 
parades, we were too busy battling with the Huns, for this 
sort of thing. 

The day set for the review, all units, began to concentrate 
at the assembling point. The further away the units were from 
the reviewing ground the earlier the start had to be. The 1st. 
Battalion, 102d F. A., of which Batterj'- C was a unit, com- 
menced the hike about 7.00 A. M. and as usual a light rain was 
falling. The battery had a hike of nine and one-half kilometers 
to make. This would have been nothing, if the rain factor had 
not entered into it. We had to hike over cow paths and through 
fields, where the mud and water was often over ankle deep. 

We arrived at the rifle range about 10.00 A. M. and were 
immediately assigned to our place of formation. We were 

143 



SMASHING THROUGH THE *' WORLD WAR" 



standing on low, grassy, marshy ground and the water was 
ankle deep. The rain let up about noon, but there was no re- 
lief from the water and mud. We ate dinner, a jam sandwich 
and a drink from our canteen of water and waited until 2 P. M. 
for General Pershing to arrive, five hours in this mud, but the 
worst was yet to come. The review began, and General Per- 
shing personally inspected every platoon in the Division, this 
taking up about three hours. About 5.15 P. M. everything was 
all set for the passing of the division in review. The different 
organizations had been formed in such a manner that at a sin- 
gle bugle call, every unit, every man in the Division moved off 
at exactly the same moment. It Avas the first time that close 
on to 40,000 men had moved as one by a single bugle call. The 
review was magnificent, despite the fact that everyone was wet 
through, cold and hungry. We had been in this condition be- 
fore ; it was no new experience to us and we knew how to carry 
on despite conditions, of this kind. The entire review went off 
without a hitch and had it been anyone else but General Per- 
shing inspecting we certainly would have been highly compli- 
mented. We arrived back to our billets about 9.00 P. jM. that 
same evening, after we had a good feed and a change of clothes 
we were ourselves once more. 

About the 25th of March, we left the Le Mans area and 
struck out for Brest. For the first time we traveled in Ameri- 
can box cars instead of French horse cars. The trip was of one 
day and one night duration. We detrained in Brest amid a 
pelting rain and after a hike of about six kilometers arrived at 
the camp. We were quartered in pyramidal tents. This was the 
first time Ave had used tents in France. The system at Brest 
was fine ; they had everything down to perfection and there 
was no confusion. Corp. McGinnis was in a hospital here and 
after a great deal of trouble on his part and influence on the 
part of Captain Howe, Bill joined the Battery once more. 

The second day in Brest was a fine one and the sun shone 
brightly. It Avas the first time the sun had shone in four 
months. It must have been because the Yankee Division Avas 
there. 

We remained in Brest but tAvo days. The authorities at 
Brest said that AA'e AA'ent through there quicker than any other 
troops ever did. 

144 




Upper Left: Corp. William McGinnis and Pvt. Joseph Lonergan, 
Toul Sector; Upper Right: (Kloby) in training Mayet, France, Left 
to Right: Wm. Donovan, John Manion, Patrick Collins and (Kloby) 
Thomas Corcoran; Center Left: Grave of Pvt. Arthur Dyer, La- 
Ferte, Haute Mavne, France; Center Right: Cpl. Ed. D. Sirois and 
Sgt. John J. McCarthy, in a French, (Palace) car (?); Lower Left: 
A cootie hunt upside do\vn. Left to Right: Cook Wm. Carney, Corp. 
Wm. McGinnis, Pvt. Joseph Lonergan and Mus. Arthur Morin; 
Lower Right: Echelon at Toul Sector: 1st. Sgt. John G. Sheehan 
and Cpl. James Dick in foreground. (Photos by Authors). 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



On March 31, 1919, at about 10.00 A. M. we were loaded 
on a ferry and later carried out into the Harbor, where the 
U. S. S. Mongolia was awaiting us. At 5.00 P. M. this same day 
the propellers of the Mongolia commenced to revolve and we 
were on our way home at last. 

There was very little of note that took place on the way 
home. The first night out we sat and watched the light houses 
of France grow more and more distant, until they were out of 
sight altogether. Conditions were remarkably good on the Mon- 
golia. Two meals were served each day and the food was fairly 
good. The quarters were 100 p. c. better than on the Finland, 19 
months before, and the ventilation was excellent. Band con- 
certs were given by our own band, the 103d F. A. band and the 
ship's band. Moving pictures were shown and boxing bouts 
were staged. One thing that was a Godsend was a canteen on 
board, where luxuries could be purchased at a reasonable price. 
We were allowed all the lights that we wanted at night and 
smoking was allowed on the deck at all times. The weather 
was wonderful and there was very little seasickness. 

Every day the speed of the boat, number of miles traveled 
and the number of miles yet to travel were posted and every- 
one watched these bulletins with immense interest. The boat 
did not go half fast enough to suit that cargo of battle-scarred 
veterans. 

The last night, April 10, almost everyone sat up all night 
so as to be the first one to catch the first glimpse of dear old 
Boston, which we had not seen for nineteen months and which 
we thought many times that we should never see again. Fish- 
ing-smacks, sail-boats and many other small craft and sea-gulls 
had warned us all day that the desired haven was not a million 
miles away. We were without any doubt fast approaching 
"God's Country," the ''Promised Land." 



145 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD' WAR" 

CHAPTER XVni 
God's Country 

In the early hours of the morning, long before daylight, 
the myriads of lights flickering along the shore, gave us our 
first intimation that land was near. Just as dawn was breaking 
the pilot came alongside, boarded the transport and in a short 
while we were on our way up the harbor. Long before this, 
all the points of vantage were taken. Even the rigging was 
full of soldiers waiting for a glimpse of the city. A number of 
small boats came out and on board one of them was the one 
person whom every man on the ship wanted to see, Major 
General Edwards, the man whom we considered the real Com- 
mander of our division, whether he was relieved or not. We 
always spoke of him as the Divisional Commander of the 
"Fighting 26th." His first act after paying his compliments 
to the ship's Commander and other high officers on board was 
to get down on the lower decks Avith the enlisted men. To say 
that he was happy would be defining his expression of joy 
mildly. We, in turn, did not know just how to express our joy 
at seeing him and the shores of God's Country, now plainly 
visible in the distance. A large number of small water craft, 
ploAving through the water with great speed and in a regular 
formation were approaching the transport. As they drew near- 
er they sounded their sirens and the men cheered in return. 
Standing on the decks of the submarine chasers were many 
yeowomen from the navy yard, whom Ave had never seen be- 
fore and a lot of good natured jollying took place, as the girls 
tried to throw fruit and doughnuts aboard. In the meantime, 
several larger boats came alongside, with relatives, sweethearts 
and friends from every New England state, with banners flying 
and bands playing, shouting the name of someone whom they 
expected would be on board. Orders were passed to these 
boats to take up their positions as escorts. A gun on one of the 
forts fired and at the sound of the report, wild cheers were 
given. This Avas the sunrise gun. Once more Ave started off 
amid scenes of Avdld enthusiasm, that Ave Avill never forget. 

146 



•HAY/ W[IBH)^mGIfflHlfGHBH(F2EffY0eiHaAMg 



%i|^./?$kFr5g§^e/fe]tV'^tffJi'gfoitites0'i We/ ii|id Aeeitfa* off itbeofortwa^ 
derful reception, aeek^rded«i®odp*.vaMiriMJiignm (N^5¥n¥apk, but 
our reception excelled them all. We did not wish to go to New 
York, when Boston was quite capable of receiving us. Besides, 
we wanted the people of New England to welcome us in one of 
their own seaports. As we came alongside the pier, a veritable 
barrage of doughnuts was throAvn aboard. The pier was 
thronged with people who Avere being handled rather roughly 
by a number of M. P's. A hoAvl of derision went up from the 
ship as the boys saw these big huskies, using strong arm meth- 
ods to force the women back. Such remarks as, "What kept 
yer," and continual booing and cat calls greeted them. Gang- 
planks were run up and officers came aboard. Arrangements 
were made for men to go ashore whose relatives were waiting 
for them. Then, began a wild scramble for packs and equip- 
ment, while below deck, men were striving to push their heads 
through port holes to get a nearer view of some relative or 
friend on the dock. Just before noon the troops started ashore. 
Before boarding the trains we received free gifts from the 
Salvation Army, K. of C, Y. M. C. A. and Jewish Welfare 
Board and hot coffee and sandwiches were also served by the 
ever faithful Red Cross. The first Lawrence men to greet us 
were Armorer John Ryan, John Ahearn from the Eagle- 
Tribune, Byron T. Butler from the Lawrence Telegram, Andrew 
Minahan, from the Lawrence Sun-American and Willis 
McNulty also a representative of the Eagle-Tribune. Trains 
were in waiting for us, — passenger coaches — what a difference 
from what we had been accustomed to, travelling hundreds of 
miles, in rackety old horse ears with the ever present stench 
which never left the cars once they had been used for horses 
and cattle. The strangest thing of all was to see so many civ- 
ilians and hear them talking to us in our oAvn language. 

The hustle and bustle of American life was very noticeable, 
compared with the easy going French methods of transacting 
business. The train pulled out on its way to Camp Devens. 
The trip through the large and small towns, which the train 

147 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

passed through, will always remain as one of our brightest and 
most pleasant memories. Thousands of men, women and chil- 
dren, lined the route with cakes and fruit. The little children 
cheered and waved flags and seemed the happiest of all ; it was 
wonderful. The camp was reached in the early afternoon. We 
were assigned to tents until we had gone through the delousing 
plant, after which we were assigned to regular barracks. That 
night passes were issued to a limited number of men, most of 
whom proceeded to Lawrence in machines, with friends and 
relatives, who had been waiting for them. During the after- 
noon, relatives and friends of the boys were streaming into the 
camp; mothers were clasped in the arms of their sons^ weep- 
ing with joy; sweethearts embraced each other; friends were 
shaking hands ; all were so happy. The following day, many of 
the boys were on the streets, trying to get accustomed to the 
street cars, real sidewalks and rushing into the stores. From 
that time on, passes were issued so that all the men could get 
to Lawrence, but that fact, — the passes, — did not bother the 
Battery C, boys, passes or no passes they went to Lawrence 
just the same. 

The barracks in Devens were the finest we had ever seen, 
steam heat, hot and cold showers, the mess hall with tables, 
plenty of good wholesome food, clubhouses of every description 
— soldiering in camp Devens was certainly far different from 
soldiering on the other side. 

April 22nd we were tendered a reception by the citizens of 
Lawrence. At first a parade was contemplated, but the War 
Dept. prevented this, stating that no parades could be held, 
until the big Boston parade was over. This was a big disap- 
pointment, as preparations had already been made. The author- 
ities compromised and we attended a reception instead. Bat- 
tery C, Company F, many men from overseas divisions other 
troops, Company L, men from the navy, marine corps, and 
army nurses, in fact every branch of the service was repre- 
sented. All along the route people were shouting themselves 
hoarse. We returned to the armory, where the Red Cross and 
St. Claire League provided us with refreshments and dancing 
followed. 

April 27th our last divisional review was held at Camp 
Devens, where our colors were decorated and when forty-five 

148 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



men were also decorated with the Croix de Guerre and Distin- 
guished Service Cross. All the Governors of the New England 
States were present at this review which was very impressive. 
The massed bands of the divisions furnished the music, this 
huge band being in charge of Lieut. Russell, bandmaster of the 
102nd. F. A. band. This was the last official military appear- 
ance of the famous FIGHTING YANKEE DIVISION. The 
troops were reviewed by Major General Harry C. Hale and 
Major General Clarence R. Edwards. The men turned out with 
steel helmets and packs and it was a magnificent sight to see 
column after column pass by the reviewing stand, with colors 
flying and steel bayonets, glistening in the sunlight. Each man 
felt a certain amount of pride in the work and accomplish- 
ments of the 26th which was composed of men in all walks in 
life. They were soon going to return to their offices, work- 
shops and farms, proud in the thought, that the division to 
which they belonged had written one of the brightest pages in 
the military history of the Army of the United States. Each 
of the New England States, which had contributed their men to 
the YANKEE DIVISION, could point with pride to them, those 
men who fought with the division in France. 

WELCOME HOME BY GENERAL EDWARDS 

Welcome, you stout hearted lads. 

There is not a day since I returned that I have not beei^ 
telling of your splendid deeds. I have told your mothers that 
you returned clean and clear physically, morally and mentally, 
that you have been nearer your God in those desperate ten 
months than since you left your mothers' knee. 

I have told everybody that you have seen others' countries 
and many things — that it has taught us all the benefit of our 
institutions — that you have seen Boche propaganda and 
will be the quickest to recognize the same stuff here in the 
guise of the I. W. W. Bolsheviki literature as used to be 
dropped in our lines called the "Ardennes Gazette" — that you 
can't be fooled, and that I hope you will take charge of this 
country. 

Signed 

C. R. EDWARDS. 
—Boston Post, April 20, 1919. 

149 



SMASHm(5f5aaHniamjii^^<THEDffwBEE© war" 



•nium^m ©0@llaI>€^SiS'rWMX)OMM)BB@M©iMiESS^€lE n-jra 
biipA-^n'A freY. sdj io a-ioivisvoij ^di IIA ..-kO-i'J ^yjlvii>'<^. b Jiinh/ii 
.9 AigaaiqfD© tbe^t)^C6abi£iHdvMkBoi:itbet26thjIMsdsiioa7/ gststt^. 
«if{J ,oi«x/fa ddt b'^tly.hvnii ^.noh.i'/ib sdl lo ^.bi:U'i L-i^Hsru sdT 
&di iM'a^feaf^hiTS&tts.iext^mds. .to>ybuotliem^riii£at;TOeilfemef. oiShfe 
-feiMavJd'lOf' ^yout' kihievem-eats as-yon cetlirnliii lai uAitritbiifQlligh 

iiAim Hfhdy^mi^ eiitettaflrtheL«ervvift4..irKon:>afiii) Iroittffjddimsff^dfefls 
^l^v^^afiSed ft^w>3MSte!r^itoi^;thevglt)tri©nas He'ear!clI«f.;^ta3sacimseits. 
iTfeb^*i(ib%^d<ie4teiiDfei»fi^<tHe «onsi tf/diw S$ate:afe>f 1001% iwiritteji 
rni'tW \^gei rof f AfiffeBitenilfisfcopy-ii ; ^.ett hare ■ fecLtkel la taeavi ^M- 
-i*jrciQitlv6Wi i^iife Hsftvag-j^idone ybiii>is fetsymbol ofiwiiiat'we; shaH 
^hb^1;'(y ill 6^ (JU¥ bbysF-^wii^: have- served ihei^tStatd land -€^10^101- 
-ti'yj'^o,;^Mo»tieb% (Ulidfiwitk OK^iation •fckaiiwilbBj^fer.daii. 
ot noi^ivib 9fft J/Jiit ,tri«iJon't srit ni S%n€[d,^..r'ii;"J: bif-i Hqoda 
ni 89«fiq Jt>,9tr[2rrcf 9f{t io 9no rretthvCi^LiMI'J^rfiiftOI^HCrBviffY/ 
fiiW^festdatp-0fet^9A|trJl '20r, liSl^riA 9iit io v-iot>.rr{ Y-iiitf?ii;r 9i[t 
ot rf9xn liedi bsTuoi'itrroo had d.-tid.u .wMaf'^. bn-jbnlT v/oZ grfr io 
QBoOtRJ^BIflMGyfiB©! "fiH-E iSS^^li IDilr¥l^@IS^Ea(I[IMDM>.TByf{t 
.9SiEe;I0F rrWaiflb BAtKER^ JfI§noi orfvr ffsai 

Ne8f!^%fl(EisI1feHi^ >lQii!a;f£fliH!dd)«i)if)i-3^^^ of the 

26th Division which it fifn>is.he^d to, the American Expedition- 
arvrferees. Diiri^iaits a'c^^iVe^'s^iWc'^ 'irl^j'aMS fi'omrhlb^ 1918 
tiMh TJ<^?6W ha'd:befn' finally aVTiTl^T^a: ' it ^(^AfHInitVd yyWi 
^^^/QfsW'UnA*''(^ls'tirt^ fo tlie 'finaT ttml '^IbvibiiM-i^siTl't^'^ 
'^f)nri<eVfiinder'its oomntandeT,- Ma.)6f't'lat'e/ic'e''Rv16fi-lTfa[r'd^, 

the,llth FreneMrmy'i!n)rlis?"'^;^^^ '■;'''■ ^^^'J^ ^'^-^^ '^l-''^' 
^^"'!tre ^fatifVinVr'to li(' klil^^l\i V^teS^'tm W?^teiic^,As- 



1 



56^ii?^'^ of this Division have liifniishecf'enfhnsi'aj^-tic te^tintoMr 
lHr^fS(^'of the braVeTv and devotiort td' dVity' Vhicli charAict'!^'^- 
^f^d^'dt^'^s^r^f^^'of the 201^1.? I^Iie ^6tli^ sfe%^^itli^ ^Ife' lltii 
¥re9fclf1t&iy'C'?)T4'R'nntil moved to^^^ 

lt;f d(^'over;V^?e:!s^ect6T ^vhieh was j)revi6usTy ^oyqi^^lta-'B^^'tlife 
m?t)?^W\i af t^ifife'd 'm^t^iifi-oW^;-^ l^'^u\f,'H^ 4? it-'^t' 
the 6th French Army. j,t participated in active offensive 6^^i^- 
ations iiX9).udin§[^'l]^'fi"li"ttack North of the IMarne, and hnd a 
distinffuishedlrrfpoTtant part in the iaruQus, battles of St. Mihiel 
and the Argonne. '^^^ ^' ^"^^ '^^^^ not.o^- 

ea50 



I 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

No section of a proud and grateful country has a clearer 
title to the pride and gratitude with which its returned heroes 
are welcomed than have the relatives, friends and towns-people 
of the boys of the 20th. 

It was hard, perilous service which this Division was called 
upon to give. It is a pleasure to attest the fine quality of this 
service throughout, and all beholders concur in admiration of 
the work which the 26th did. 

The pride and joy cannot but be touched with sadness. 
Some who Avent do not return ; others wear the chevron of gold 
on their right sleeve and unfortunately there are some who 
need no chevrons to tell us of their wounds. 

I am proud to join with the people of New England in wel- 
coming home the 26th Division, men and heroes, partners in 
the achievement of a glory and the performance of a duty for 
which our gratitude will be echoed by generations long after us. 

Signed 
NEWTON D. BAKER 
War Dept. Washington April 1919. 
—Boston Post, April 20, 1919. 



ROSTER OF BATTERY C AT THE TIME OF THEIR 
ARRIVAL HOME 

OFFICERS 

Captain William F. Howe, Jr., 207 Essex St., Boston, Mass. 

1st. Lt. Earl E. Jensen, 140 Clinton Ave., Salt Lake City. 

1st. Lt. Thompson Dean, Stamfoi-d, Conn. 

2nd. Lt. George L. Bell, Jr., Fulton County Ct. House, Atlanta, Ga. 

2nd. Lt. Paul E. Doty, 419 Maple Ave., Lynn, Mass. 

2nd. Lt. Wm. A. Scarlett, 37 Lake Ave., Lynn, Mass. 

2nd. Lt., Chas. D. Brown, 40 Chestnut St., Salem, Mass. 

FIRST SERGEANT 
Sheehan, John G., 285 Hight St., Lawrence, Mass. 

151 



SMA>SHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR' 

SERGEANTS 
Borton, Eric B., 34 Loring St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Yule, David D., 223 Main St., Andover, Mass. 
Blanchette, Edgar, 41 Tyler St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Fegerus, George H., 66 Ysaka St., Worcester, Mass. 
Pageau, Joseph A., 52 Railroad St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Lorden, Daniel A., 52 Railroad St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Hart, William L, 10 Phillips St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Calvert, Hartley L., R. F. D. 1, Salem, N. H. 
Menzie, William, 440 Haverhill St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Carson, Robert G., R. F. D. 1, Ellington, Conn. 
Rinehart, Joseph M., 296 Broadway, Lawrence, Mass. 
Lynch, Edward J., 136 Bowdoin St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Hamel, Rajrmond W., 14 Butler St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Churchill, John A., 194 Front St., Exeter, N. H. 

CORPORALS 
Fergfuson, John L., 153 Prospect St., Lawrence, Mass- 
Perkins, John Calvin, Route 2, Mansfield, Texas. 
Topping, Henry, 30 Nesmith St., Lawi-ence, Mass. 
Innis, James, 67 Warren St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Poole, Charles, 35 Park St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Noble, Albert, 42 Texas Ave., Lawrence, Mass. 
Jordan, William E., 155 Salem St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Lacey, Thomas F., 192^/^ Park St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Hadden, Augustine L., 71 Crescent St., Lawrence, Mass. 
McDonald, Harold J., 15 Crawford St., Lowell, Mass. 
Manion, John F., 3 Bunkerhill St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Brochu, Edward, 10 Hobson St., Methuen, Mass. 
Barry, Timothy J., 102 Saratoga St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Rahilly, Michael J., 311 Hampshire St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Connors, Charles N., 66 Texas Ave., Lawrence, Mass. 
McDonough, William E., 64 Oregon Ave., Lawrence, Mass. 
Cote, Wilfred, 57 Cross St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Dick, James, 3 Cuba St., Andover, Mass. 
Demers, Walter W., 30 Orchard St., Dover, N. H. 
Wyman, Mark W., 43 Falmouth St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Poole, Harry, 58 Trenton St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Faucher, Rene E., 17 Daisey St., Lawrence, Mass. 
McGinnis, William, 115 Spruce St., Lawrence, Mass. 



152 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

CHIEF MECHANICIAN 

Strout Ralph E., R. F. D. 5, Belfast, Me. 

MECHANICIANS 

Hayes, William J., 83 Easton St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Martin, William G., 107 Nesmith St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Belisle, George R., 477 Essex St., Lawrence, Mass. 

SADDLER 
Dion, Camille, 161 West St., Lawrence, Mass. 

HORSESHOERS 

Regan, John J., 85 So. Broadway, Lawrence, Mass. 
Murphy, Michael, 1 Bennington St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Desbiens, Pierre, 447 Bunkerhill, Lawrence, Mass. 

WAGONER 
Neal, Daniel, 5 Prospect St., Methuen, Mass. 

COOKS 

Rossi, Ralph, 119 Elm St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Beaumier, Anthony, 218 Abbott St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Vallone, Joseph, 803 North St., Boston, Mass. 
Sequin, Albert, 72 Margin St., Lawrence, Mass. 

BUGLERS 

McGeoch, Raymond R., 17 Bond St., Gloucester, Mass. 
Morin, Arthur, 48 Railroad St., Lawrence, Mass. 
McCrellias, Wm. H., 1010 22nd. St., Rock Island, IlL 

PRIVATES (First Class) 

Coakley, Joseph, 167 Salem St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Anderson, Andrew G., R. F, D. Box 72, Biwabik, Minn. 
Bowden, Bernard J., Castine, Maine 
Thibault, Henry, 31 Crosby St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Bjorlin, Wm., Anoka, Minn. 

153 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR' 

McCarthy, James, 157 Duep St., No. Plainfield, N. J. 

Green, Harry, R. F. D. L, No. Adams, Mass. 

Corcoran, Thomas F., Contoocook, N. H. 

Fitzgerald, Harold A., 460 Water St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Hubbard, Melvin H., R. F. D., Minty, Me. 

Laycock, Robert E., 32 Melrose St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Miller, Arthur M., Ausable Forks, New York. 

Peel, Thomas H., 149 Tenney St., Methuen, Mass. 

Leslie, Harry F., 69 Fern St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Theroux, Lee, Red Lake City, Minn. 

Miles, Charles E., 26 Main St., Worcester, Mass. 

Ingle, James, 9 Chelmsford St., Methuen, Mass. 

Hayes, Francis P., 83 Eaton St., Lawi-ence, Mass. 

Rourke, Frank, 55 Ames St., Chicopee, Mass. 

Hoffman, Otto A., 47 Storrow St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Knight, Roland P., R. F. D. 1, No. Hampton, Mass. 

Coughlin, Edward, 42 Crosby St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Collins, Fred J., 16 Turner St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Gardner, Harold A., 34 Essex St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Donovan, William D., 104 Jackson St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Bachand, Edward, 40 Norton St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Hajjar, George M., 17 Pine St., Lawrence, Masa. 

Poole, Ben, 58 Tenney St., Methuen, Mass. 
Anderson, Arnold S., Anola, Minn. 
Provencher, John, 2 Blanchard St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Beatty, Arthur E., 923 Lake Ave., South Duluth, Minn. 
Mercier, Throphile, 27 Riverside Ave., Beverly, Mass. 
Frazier, Charles, 19 Rowell St., Madison, Me. 
Polito, Vincent, 124 Federal St., Providence, R. I. 
Dowd, Francis, 99 Abbott St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Carney, Leo L., 156 Margin St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Dugan, James J., Highland Road, Andover, Mass. 
Hull, Josiah, 317 Lawrence St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Alquist, Bert, Luinnesec, Michigan. 
Carroll, Timothy, 310 Salem St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Tordoff, Richard E., 137 Phillips St., Methuen, Mass. 
Beaulieu, Rosario J., 44 Tremont St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Devine, James J., 149 Foster St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Kavanah, John A., 81 Arnold St., Lawrence, Mass. 
McCelland, Wm. H., 465 Essex St., Lawrence, Mass. 



154 



.856M ,90fT91V/-BJ P.ISMi^l^EJS ^^l ,V 

Bitl§^^a?J^W.ri^6-^BStf-^'^., -Law^rice, Mass. 
Alkire, E>Mil€ •^.f^'^ix^ood^, '^'^St^ ^frgJnia. 
Sedar, •HftIho;^^3r-^i^speet St.v E^4^riyice,^Mass. 
O'Brien, John F^ 22B¥6mii^d-'Sf.(LaWferi^, Mass. 
m^Mta?'¥r«M, ^3f8'^Gfte&%MfoY4, 'M4tKueft^' Mass. 
Lewis, Wm. J., -i^^PKbe'^? ^n'T^Hftgisco, Cal. 
Robberts, LtftM^'^§/"''^.r'^8fi«e-^§ S'«)tSboi-&,-Alabama 
Arftf^nr^bi^, •iMAe^iT'^^^/Caftetio'n, Minn. 
Botten, Gm^rt/WtrTi^drAGnt-Av^, tkAut^, Minn. 
Bakken, •:^c^,^l''1Ea%PSiith-%tr;'I>Slvi^tSf, Mmn. 
Lavin,-^ Pati-ix>^,- 121- ^alu^n^ -'S^, '^ost<^,' "Mass. 
Brown, Johii^'^5^15'mse^lfr^§t.[''W'es? ikilMh, Minn. 
Silbio, Rocc&';-^^fc<^a;^K^fJ^5-'^ -2 -^ Tf -^^ ,. 
Blomquist, Charles, Box -S^i^'^^Set*^,- jfenfl^/" '«: 
Hutton, Albert D., 45 ForM-'m/ lia^^ncfe, 'Mass. 
Sweene^iMiaM^J^ ^(^ed^? Sl^i'^a4^¥nce, Mass. 
Johnson, Ch^Mei^'E{;%83te-^- Y6f^f^gbMsk-^> ' 
Conway,^F?ai^,-8i'''g^Ti'^(^'St?,''WTfttH«tionS fes. 
Schwarzeft!^l4 '^(^rftr^ 1^'?6 mi6pRty^,-^dl^eland, Ohio. 
Martin, LtMfe%.r35W^lani ^^X l^^thueftr'TMass. 
Collins, A¥t3Mr<|3,^M«^i4nxil^e?^g^ MwreVice-,- Mass. 

R. I. 



Parent, Alfred- 1.,-^ E^t^'h-'iVd.^'^oi4hkmpto'6, N. H. 
Harding,-^lb'^l-?,^<#aF'E^l^-Wfe^rgfnTa.-^ 
Lowry, John N{^,^%a?,'^W^ia.? ^-^ ^ - -I -'I .'"9 
Webb;^f^viia?-T??r1^ g^fflnftai ^flf la^rel^c^I'Mass. 
Cuvti^^-^^rnfi^-^'/M •^roPSf.-;-F^^ertce,''l\f^s§. ' ^■ 

Kothe, ri^%?:'mr'&kaV^i?rm§s<ikih^e} r6^a-^- 




Mielke, John A.,H&idi'f60j?,-!E;llampt6n- Masg." 
Retelle, Edward A., 17-T5fc4iafn •^tvi^a\v^'enc'erMass. 
BarYow,-''3^h -Wf^^lW^^lrd"^ ^f:i-F^~l itfv^rJ'Mak^I' 
Blunt, Charle^j-'Htim-^^t^;-' ^sci^sM:-"'^ » ^ '''-^^^ 
Smith,-f^af fii/'FMe^on^l^ebl^^li' ^- •■^^"^-^^^- ■' 
Ruane, Micfi&^ff l^^r^lnd^/M? ^an'^'f^r^ncfe'tal. 
Gleason, Fred A., -101 'Wk!^^ ^t;,'^Llw^nc^, ^^sl. < 

6IS5 



SMASfflNG THROUGH THE ** WORLD WAR" 

Beletsky, Andrew, 182 Lowell St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Keeling, Thomas, 1422 Kenwood Ave., Camden, N. J. 

Crawford, Percival S., 332 Pelham St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Rainville, George, 82 Farley St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Carter, Ernest E., 16 Madison St., Methuen, Mass. 

Ruhl, Henry Herman, Vicus, Missouri. 

Straman, Geo. Henry, 139 Alexandra, Pike Ft., Thomas, Ky. 

Hill, William M., Smithville, West Virginia. 

Long, Dewey L., R. F. D., Casenova, Wisconsin. 

Hurrell, Frederick D., 70 Oakland Ave., Methuen, Mass. 

Ryan, Patrick J., 141 Foster St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Randall, Leon N., 130 Cross St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Linnehan, Mathew J., 220 Salem St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Davies, Thomas, 4 Buxton Ct., Andover, Mass. 

Ring, Eyle 0., R. F. D. 2, Castlewood, Virginia. 

Peyton, Henry W., Sinia, Kentucky. 

Tatum, Russell A., Critz, Virginia. 

Beaulier, Henry, 5611 Main St., West Duluth, Minn. 

Dyer, Phillip A., 71 Sherman St., Portland, Me. 

Bowen, Leonard A., 149 Grosvenor, Providence, R. I. 

Anderson, Leslie, 125 Osgood St., Lawrence, Mass. 

O'Brien, James F., 395 Park St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Lorden, Frank J., 751 Essex St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Kane, James J., 50 Lowell St., Methuen, Mass. 

Seymore, Grover C, R. F. D. 1, Box 17, Pennington Gap, Vir 

Brewer, Ray L., 4830 West Fifth St., N. Y. 

Hamilton, Thomas, Big Boone, Boone County, Ky. 

Aho, Andrew, 102 Lincoln St., Hibbing, Minn. 

Riley, Phillip J., 82 South Broadway, Lawrence, Mass. 

O'Grady, James A., 125 Exchange St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Poudrier, Alcide J., 286 Broadway, Lawrence, Mass. 

Delbrudge, Bernard, 2369 Wood St., Wheeling, West Virginia. 

Bloomquist, Harden, Lake Nebagamon, Wis. 

Joyce, Joseph, 3 Merrill St., Methuen, Mass. 

Acquard, Alfred A., Goodhire, Minn. 

O'Neil, John J., 98^/4 Tremont St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Mich, Peter, 17 Currier St., Lawrence, Mass. 

Mahoney, James, 24 Simpson Ave., Somerville, Mass. 

Rourke, Frank, 96 West Sixth St., Lowell, Mass. 

Avery, Leslie L., R. F. D. 1, Sedalia, Ind. 

156 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

Heffernan, V/illiam, 76 Bunkerhill St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Bradley, James W., 46 Butler St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Surface, Luther G., Petersburg, Boone County, Ky. 
Gagnon, Wilfred, 33 Crosby St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Hartman, Henry, 98 East Haverhill St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Magri, Pietro, R. F. D. 1, Williamsburg, Ohio. 
Belanger, Albert, 36 Dracut St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Slattery, Herbert J., 12 Elizabeth St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Moynihan, Daniel F., 14 Trento St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Grey, George A., 62 Washington St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Berube, Patrick, 603 Andover St., Lawrence, Mass. 
St. Pierre, Omer, 302 Broadway, Lawrence, Mass. 
McNamee, John A., 46 Margin St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Cote, James M., 57 Crosby St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Boissoneau, Andrew, 155 Weare St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Asselin, Albert, 34 Chester St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Silverstein, Benjamin, 53 Sullivan St., Rochester, N. Y. 
Bevington, William, 36 Manchester St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Bowen, Franklin G., 6 Sidney St., Dorchester, Mass. 
Muzio, Edward L., 2330 Grant St., Berkeley, Cal. 
Coia, Bernard, 75 Oak St., Lawrence, Mass. 
Weiner, Maurice, 206 West Ninth St., N. Y. 



157 



SMASHING THRC>lJ0HO^nm0fWaMlW WAR" 

CHAPTER XIX 

Demobilization 

About April 20th the real work of demobilization began. 
Almost all the troops had been allowed liberty until this date. 
Now began the toughest battle we'd ever fought. The Battle 
of Paperwork. 

The details in battery, company and regimental offices, 
were doubled and then tripled in strength. Sleep was out of 
the question, it Avas work all night, to clean up all the intri- 
cate work demanded by the discharging officers. It reminded 
one of the front once more. Runners were running here and 
there with papers of all kinds inquiring for someone that could 
not be found, everyone was active. All kinds of "trick or- 
ders," Avere issued which no one understood. 

Final statements and payrolls had to be made out, final 
endorsements had to be put on the Service records, records of 
service etc, looked up, discharges made out, back pay figured 
out, for men who through some mistake or misunderstanding 
had not been paid for sometime, mistakes of which there Avere 
countless numbers, in allotments and War Risk Insurance had 
to be corrected, rating cards had to be revised, men who lived 
in other parts of the country, outside of Ncav England and had 
come to the division as replacements, had to be transferred to 
the camps nearest their homes, for discharge, ration returns 
figured out, property accounted for and to the sorroAV of every 
Battery and Company Commander the unit funds audited and 
all the accounts straightened out, in fact a hundred and one 
things had to be done. The amount of Avork that discharge en- 
tailed is almost unbelievable and if the Avar had not turned the 
officers gray, this came very near to it and almost made them 
nervous Avrecks to boot. It seemed as if this endless job Avould 
never be completed, but Avhen the time came everything Avas 
done satisfactorily to the letter, as the Yankee Division ahvays 
did everything. 

During this period, photographers flocked to Camp Devens 
and the boys had their pictures taken, singly, in groups and as 
units. 

158 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

On April 24 the Infantry half of the division went to Bos- 
ton and stayed that day and night, in preparation for the big 
parade the next day. They were alloAved liberty on the night 
of the 24th and journeyed back to Devens immediately after 
the parade. The other half, including the Artillery left the 
Camp on the morning of April 25th. Upon arriving in Boston 
they immediately took up their post of formation on the banks 
of the Charles River and awaited the order to move. 

It was a raw cold day, Avith a stiff, cold wind blowing. We 
were nearly frozen to death waiting four hours for the parade 
to start as we did not wear overcoats, the dress for the parade 
being blouses and light skeleton packs. The civilians around 
the formation points have our heartfelt thanks for the manner 
in which they treated us. We Avere invited into their homes to 
get Avarm and not satisfied with doing this alone, they treated 
us to good hot coffee and sandAviches. The K. of C, Salvation 
Army, Red Cross and Y. M. C. A. Avere also on the job, and 
passed out hot coffee, sandAviches, doughnuts, tobacco, cigar- 
ettes and other SAveets and luxuries, on the streets. 

At the appointed time, 1.00 P. M., the parade commenced 
with past Commander Major General Clarence R. EdAvards and 
the present Commander Major General Harry C. Hale, leading. 
Our OAvn General, our "Grand Old Man," was mounted on a 
white charger and he Avas shown once again that the people of 
NcAv England practically AA^orshipped him, "The Man Who Had 
Led NcAv England's Oaa^u to Victory." 

The parade Avas one of the greatest that Boston had ever 
seen. Despite the unsuitable Aveather, one of the largest 
croAvds Boston had ever held, Avas on hand from every corner of 
NcAv England. NcArer before had the "Old Hub" seen such a 
gala day. Never before Avas she decorated as she Avas on this 
occasion and neA^er before Avere true heroes Avelcomed in a more 
fitting and glorious manner than the Yankees Avere received on 
this sacred day. April 25th, 1919. A day that Avill never be 
forgotten by either the returned "vets" who paraded or the 
joyous multitude of mothers, Avives, fathers, sisters, brothers, 
and sAveetheai'ts, Avho looked on and shouted themselves hoarse. 

Immediately folloAving the parade the Infantry of the Di- 
vision returned to Camp Devens. The Artillery remained over 
the night of April 25th. The 102nd F. A. Avith Battery C 

159 



SMASHING THEOUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 



marched to the Newton Street or East Armory, where they 
were to billet for the night. Very few remained at the Armory, 
however. Equipment was thrown off and every one given lib- 
erty until 9 A. M. Saturday morning. It is sufficient to say 
that Boston was thrown ^\dde open to us and that we'll never 
forget that night. 

Saturday morning, April 26th, we entrained and arrived 
about noon at Camp Devens. 

Monday, April 28th, the Infantry of the Division was dis- 
charged. Tuesday, April 29th, the rest of the Division, includ- 
ing the Artillery, threw off the shackles of war and became 
civilians once more. 

Trucks furnished by the business men of Lawrence, under 
the personal direction of Mayor John J. Hurley, met the battery 
boys immediately after they were discharged and carried them 
and their equipment to our own dear old home town, Law- 
rence. 

GENERAL SHERBURNE'S ORDER 

HEADQUARTERS 
51ST FIELD ARTILLERY BRIGADE 

Camp Devens, Mass. 
April 25, 1919. 
GENERAL ORDER 
NO 4 

1. Upon the eve of the release of the 51st Field Artillery 
Brigade from Federal Service, it is fitting that there be on rec- 
ord in the files of the organization a tribute to the magnificent 
accomplishments of the officers and men who contributed so 
gloriously to its success. 

This Brigade was the first New England unit to fire against 
the enemy in the Great World War : this Brigade was the first 
National Guard unit to fire against the enemy; this Brigade 
made the greatest single and continuous advance into enemy 
territory of any unit in the United States Army ; this Brigade 
served continuously in the line, in the line of support "en 
route," with the exception of twelve days, from Feb. 1, 1918 to 
November 11th, 1918, a total of 284 days, a record unparalleled 

160 




S p o ;?M-i 

TO 

CO 






be: 






■ •- o ^ 



i« > c f ^ § <u S itJ ^ 
S c f?X « ° '0 +^- - ? 



Ox 



P OT -73 ' 






f^ an C cS cS '^ C Ph 

OPL,St=^Cc3 ojO^m 

« o ^ § Ph c hJ fe ;^ C 
^ g C 3 ,-i« .-o |-43 w 
riO Cro ,su".2^^ o a o 



^^^ SSI'S f^-.-o"^ 









WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



by any similar unit of the Army. Often weary, sleepless and 
exhausted, officers and men showed an unfailing spirit of cour- 
age, determination and cheerfulness typifying the very high- 
est standard of American ideals. 

I congratulate the officers and men of the Brigade and I 
thank them, as I know their former Brigade Commanders 
would do, for their loyalty and co-operation from the 25th day 
of July, 1917, to this, the date of my separation from them. 

I know that this Brigade will take back into civil life the 
qualities they have demonstrated and will prove as worthy cit- 
izens as they have soldiers 

John H. Sherburne, 
Brigadier General U. S. A. 
Commanding 51st Field Artillery Brigade. 



161 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

CHAPTER XX 
Back To Civies 

The transformation from Army to Civil life was quickly- 
effected, that is, as far as removing the uniform was concerned, 
although the rigid discipline of the past two years held us in 
check somewhat. Civilian clothes did not make civilians out 
of the men at once. The transformation was gradual. The 
men were lost at first. There were no bugle calls to answer. 
One did not have to be on the lookout constantly for an officer, 
so that he would be sure to salute him before he got by. It was 
all so strange in these first moments of joy, that one was in- 
clined to rebel at the military discipline of the past two years, 
but when he allowed cool deliberate judgment to have sway, 
he began to realize, perhaps for the first time, that while the 
army had deprived him of many privileges and luxuries, he also 
realized that he was a better man for his experiences. If a 
stranger felt like criticising the army, at this time, and gave 
vent to his feelings, he was apt to be one of its staunchest sup- 
porters. 

One of the most pleasant features of our return to civil 
life was the banquet and ball tendered to the Battery, by the 
Companies K and M and Battery C Veterans association. This 
was in the form of a reunion of the past and present mem- 
bers — the men who had founded this wonderful organization 
and had kept it going — the men who had gradually dropi>ed 
out and given their places to the younger generation — the men 
who had kept alive the traditions of the old Battery and made 
it famous in the old days — the men who had answered the call 
in '98 and the men who had answered the call in '17 and had 
proved that the old spirit born and instilled in this Battery by 
these older men was still alive — the men who had written a new 
page in the history of this great National Guard Organization. 

The reception was held in the city hall. Judge Louis S, 
Cox, a former Captain of the battery was toastmaster of the 
evening, and many prominent men in public life were among 
the guests present, including Lt. Gov. Channing Cox, Brig. 

162 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



Gen'l. John H. Sherburne, commander of the 51st. F. A. Bri- 
gade, the Artillery of the Yankee Division, Col, John F. J. 
Herbert, commander of the 102nd F. A. of which battery C 
was a part and also State Chairman of the American Legion 
and Mayor John J. Hurley. The banquet was a great success 
and the Veteran 's Association deserve great credit for the man- 
ner in which the affair was conducted, but then, this Associa- 
tion has always made a wonderful success of every affair of 
this kind that it has ever run, as the present members of the 
battery may well testify. Each man in the battery received 
an application to fill out in regard to joining the Veterans 
Association with all dues paid up to January 1st, 1920. This 
was very thoughtful of our Vets and typical of that fine organ- 
ization and the Battery boys greatly appreciated their com- 
radeship. During the course of the evening the Battery boys 
had an opportunity to show Capt. Howe, our fighting skipper, 
in what esteem he was held by his boys. Corp. William McGin- 
nis, in behalf of the men, presented him with a gold watch and 
chain. Capt. Howe commanded the respect of not only the men 
under him, but also that of his superior officers. He was first 
of all a man, secondly an officer. 

Just about the time that the Yankee Division Avas released 
from service, the fifth Victory Liberty Loan was under way. 
Many of the local soldiers who had taken off the uniform and 
had sworn that they would never put it on again because they 
had seen enough of the army, now showed their true spirit and 
donned the 0. D. once again and helped to put this loan over 
the top. They spoke on the streets, from tanks and on the 
corners and it did not even phase these battle scared warriors 
to get up in the crowded theatres and speak for this last great 
Drive. 

When the chance came along to repay in a very small 
mea,sure the good done for us by our good and faithful friends, 
the Salvation Army, the soldiers responded magnificently. Lt. 
Charles Lannigan was chairman of the committee and the ladies 
of Lawrence and the different Ladies' societies gave willingly 
of their services, time and money, for this great cause. 

Memorial Day 1919, will be long remembered. On this day 
of National mourning, veterans of three great wars, marched 
through our streets gathered at the cemeteries and paid hom- 

163 



SMASHING THROUGH THE ''WORLD WAR" 

age to the veterans and heroes that had answered the last 
great call on the field of battle. 

Battery C made a remarkable record in the World War. 
We have done our best to try to give you just a little insight 
into it. We realize now, as we did when we commenced this 
tremendous task, that it is a job too great for us to tackle; we 
cannot do justice to this organization and to the Yankee Divi- 
sion, it has been impossible for us to find words to express our 
thoughts, feelings and experiences. We trust, dear reader, that 
you will at least get a faint idea of what Battery C and the 
Yankee Division went through in the world war and that it 
will help you to see what crimes, atrocities, sufferings and 
hardships go hand in hand with the cruel scourge of WAR. 

May the record of this organization always prove an in- 
spiration to the young men of our City, State and Country and 
may they always stand up for the rights of America as these 
boys have done. 

Remember— '-'MY COUNTRY— MAY IT ALWAYS BE RIGHT 
BUT RIGHT OR WRONG— MY COUNTRY." 

NOTHING GOES, BUT 100 PER CENT AMERICANISM 
—SEE THAT YOU YOURSELF ARE 100 PER CENT AND 
THEN DEMAND THAT THE NEXT MAN TO YOU BE ONE 
ALSO. 

In writing of the closing hours of the 26tli Division, it is 
both fitting and proper, to recall to the reader's mind, the 
fact that thousands of our comrades have paid the supreme 
sacrifice and are buried in the soil of France, to which they 
consecrated their lives. These are the true heroes of DEMOC- 
RACY; they gave their lives cheerfully with the YANKEE 
DIVISION SPIRIT, and fell wdth their faces toward the en- 
emy's lines. May we hope and pray that the CAUSE for which 
they gave the most valuable and cherished of God's gifts — 
LIFE — may result in that dream — a world in which every man, 
woman and child may lead the life which is the inherited right 
of all, born into this world — may it soon be realized. 

There are others, the shattered and battered wrecks of 
humanity, returned from the war, who were the flower of 

164 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

AMERICAN MANHOOD. We ask that you use your influence 
and we ask you to see that these boys secure a SQUARE DEAL. 
They do not wish charity, they deserve something more. It 
was through their sacrifices that the Hun barbarians were pre- 
vented from perpetrating the same deeds of dishonor and 
causing the destruction and devastation, to our own city State 
and country, which has brought tears to the eyes of the Amer- 
ican Soldier in his travels up and down the WESTERN BAT- 
TLE FRONT. 

The American people have a lot to be thankful for which 
may be summed up in these few words. They were fortunate to 
have at least a FEW VOLUNTEER DIVISIONS IN FRANCE 
TO HOLD THE ENEMY UNTIL AMERICA'S GREAT ARMY 
WAS TRAINED AND READY TO STAND SHOULDER TO 
SHOULDER WITH OUR BRAVE ALLIES WHO SUFFERED 
SO MUCH, DURING THE PREVIOUS YEARS OF THE WAR. 

The parents, relatives, sweethearts and friends of the boys 
in Battery C, may always hold their heads erect. When the call 
came they answered to a man. America need have no fear of 
invasion, by a foreign foe as long as the spirit that carried all 
the Yankee Division units through the hard struggle to final 
victory, survives. 

"I honor any man who in the conscious discharge of his 
duty dares to stand alone; the world, with ignorant, intolerant 
judgment, may condemn ; the countenances of relatives may 
be averted, and the hearts of friends grow cold ; but the sense 
of duty shall be sweeter than the applause of the world, the 
countenances of relatives, or the hearts of friends." 

CHARLES SUMNER. 



165 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 



GENERAL STATISTICS 

The rumor has been more or less prevalent as regards the 
treatment, that the Yankee Division received in France, at the 
hands of the High Conmiand. To be sure, those on the outside, 
did not know what was going on, in the inside. But this we do 
know for certain, that the Yankees were slighted time and 
again. It seemed as though someone took an especial delight 
in antagonizing our Division and our gallant officers. 

Everytime that we operated with the French, we always 
received high praise, compliments and many citations and dec- 
orations. Why was it that our own American High Command, 
always slighted us? We never could dope it out. General Persh- 
ing, to the best of our knowledge, never singly cited or praised 
the 26th. When an operation was carried out, in which a num- 
ber of Divisions had been employed, he would simply mention 
the fact, in the order issued, that the 26th took part in it. It 
is a strange contrast to view our citations by French generals 
and those by our own. It will be noticed that all the citations 
published in this book are those received from the French. 

Whenever a list of men to be decorated was sent to G. H. Q. 
that list was always horribly, cut to pieces and men who 
deserved to be decorated came home without them. We recall 
several instances where two men in the battery whom we have 
in mind were cited twice one after the other and all these two fel- 
lows ever received was a little sheet of paper issued by General 
Edwards, called a citation, in view of the fact that the High Com- 
mand thrcAv them down. Such occurrences were not the ex- 
ception, but the rule. 

Of all the generals that were in France, General Edwards 
was the only one who was not decorated. Why was this? The 
most gallant General that ever commanded any troops, the 
only man that we ever recognized as our divisional command- 
er. A man with not a single enemy out of 40,000 men. A 
soldier, with the interests of his men at heart, who was al- 
ways right up on the line when big things were going on, to 
encourage the men. Is it any wonder that the Yankee Division 
was the best division in France? 

166 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 



A certain person most certainly made a terrible mistake 
when he relieved General Edwards and the other gallant 26th 
Division officers of their command. He must have thought 
that he could do such a thing and that, that would be the last 
of it, but he forget that he had the Yankees of Yankees to 
deal with and he also found out that the folks away back here 
in New England were ready to pick up our troubles and carry 
them on for us. The Yankee Division owes many thanks to 
Congressman Gallivan, Senator Walsh and all the others to- 
gether with the people of New England for the wonderful man- 
ner in which they supported us here at home. After the crown- 
ing injustice, General Edwards losing his command coupled 
with the removal of Col. Logan and the other atrocities com- 
mitted in our division it was the best thing that General Persh- 
ing could do, to keep away from the Yankee division, he was 
none too popular with the boys from New England. 

The Yankee Division was the first of the National Guard 
and draft divisions ready for France. 

The Yankee Division was the first of the National Guard 
and draft divisions to arrive in France. 

The Yankee Division was the first fully equipped and 
completely organized division of the entire American Army to 
land in France. 

The Yankee Division was beaten to France, by only the 
1st. American Division, but this division was not complete when 
the Yankee Division arrived in France. 

The Yankee Division was the first full division on the 
front. 

The Yankee Division was the first full division to take 
over and occupy a complete divisional sector as a complete 
division. 

The Yankee division was the first division to capture a 
German. 

The Yankee Division was in the first battle that American 
troops participated in, in France. The Battle of Seichprey, on 
the Toul sector. The battle of Cantigny that the 1st division 
took part in did not occur until almost a month after the bat- 
tle of Seichprey. 



167 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

The Yankee Division won the first American victory at 
Seichprey. Cantigny was the second American victory and 
was won by the 1st American Division. 

The Yankee Division was a unit of the first American 
Army Corps formed in the World War, the 1st American Army 
Corps. 

The Yankee Division was a unit of the first American army 
formed in the World War, the 1st. American Army. 

The following statistics were issued by Divisional head- 
quarters in a general order and were posted on the bulletin 
boards of the different units, about the middle of January, 
1919. The figures relating to the casualties, prisoners captured 
and material captured are only approximately correct, owing 
to the fact that complete reports were not be had at the time 
that the order was issued. The total casualties as given here 
are only 11,955, while the latest War Department orders bring 
the total up to over 14,000. 

About August, 1917, Major General Clarence R. Edwards, 
then commanding the Northeastern Department, U. S. A., was 
commissioned by the War Department to undertake the organi- 
zation and movement overseas of the new, to be formed 26th 
division. 

The 26th Division was organized August 22, 1917, at Bos- 
ton, Mass., from units of National Guard troops of the New 
England States and a small quota of National Army troops, 
from Camp Devens, Mass. 

While in the United States the division trained at the fol- 
lowing places: — 

Divisional Headquarters Boston 

Headquarters troop Boston 

101st Signal Battalion Boston 

Headquarters 51st Inf. Brigade .... Pramingham 
101st Infantry Framingham 

168 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

102d Infantry New Haven, Conn. 

102(1 Machine Gun Bn Framingham. 

Headquarters 52d Inf. Brigade Westfield 

103d Infantry Westfield 

104th Infantry Westfield 

103d Machine Gun Bn Quonset, Pt. R. I. 

101st Machine Gun Bn Niantic, Conn. 

51st F. A. Brigade Hdqs Boxford 

101st Field Artillery Boxford 

102d Field Artillery Boxford 

103d Field Artillery Boxford 

The general officers commanding the division while in the 
United States were as follows: — 

Divisional Comander — Major General Clarence R. Edwards 

51st Inf. Brigade — Brig. General Peter E. Traub. 

52d Inf. Brigade — Brig. General Charles H. Cole. 

51st F. A. Brigade — Brig. General William L. Lassiter. 

The General officers commanding the division while in 
France were as folloAvs: — 

Divisional Commanders: — 

Major General Clarence R. Edwards until Oct. 25, 1918. 

Brigadier General Frank E. Bamford. 

Major General Harry O. Hale, commanding at demobiliza- 
tion. 

51st Infantry Brigade : — 

Brigadier General Peter E. Traub. 

Brigadier General L. L. Durfee. 

Brigadier General George H. Sheldon, commanding at de- 
mobilization. 

52d Infantry Brigade : — 

Brigadier General Charles H. Cole, commanding at de- 
mobilization. 

Brigadier General George H. Sheldon. 

51st Field Artillery Brigade : — 

169 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

Brigadier General William L. Lassiter 

Brigadier General Dwight L. Altman. 

Brigadier General Pelham D. Glassford. 

Brigadier General John H. Sherburne commanding at de- 
mobilization. 

The first troops sailed from Hoboken, N. J., Sept. 7, 1917, 
and landed at St. Nazaire, France, Sept. 21, 1917. 

The division remained in the training area with headquar- 
ters at Neufchateau for about four months, during which time 
details of troops were engaged constructing hospitals, build- 
ings, telephone lines, acting as labor detachments, assisting in 
organizing sections of the S. 0. S. and otherwise making prepa- 
rations for the army which began to arrive after Jan. 1, 1918. 

Successive periods in line on the Western Front : 



SUCCESSIVE PERIODS IN LINE ON THE WESTERN FRONT 

Date of Entry Place Sector Date of Departure 

Feb. 6, 1918 North of SoissonsChemin-des- Mar. 21, 1918 

Brigaded with Dames 
the French 

April, 3, 1918 North of Toul La Reine and June, 28, 1918 

Boucq or Toul 
Battle of 
Seichprey and 
Battle of 
Xivray-Marvoioon 

July, 10, 1918 Chateau-ThierryPas Fini Inf. July, 25, 1918 

Second Battle Art. Aug. 4, 1918 
of the Marne 

Sept. 8, 1918 St. Mihiel Rupt and Oct. 8, 1918 

Troy on — Battle 
of the St. 
Mihiel Salient 

170 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

Oct, 18, 1918 North of VerdunNeptune Nov. 14, 1918 

Meuse- 
Argonne 
Offensive 

Aggregate time in the line — seven months or 210 days. 

NOTE — The date of entry and date withdrawn as used 
above are the dates on which the command passed to or from 
the 26th division. This table does not in reality show the exact 
time which all units of the division served on the line. There 
were many instances where regiments and Brigades entered the 
lines several days in advance or remained several days after the 
passing of the command of the sector. Also during the nine 
months' service in the Zone of Advance from Feb. 6, 1918, to 
Nov. 14, 1918, the division spent only ten days in a rest area, 
just prior to the St. Mihiel Offensive. The balance of the time 
not actually spent in the line was consumed in moving from one 
sector to another or in support positions awaiting entry into 
the line. 

Prisoners captured by the 26th division in battle : — 

Officers 61 

Other ranks 3087 

Total 3148 

NOTE this total is only approximately correct. The actual 
figures are not available at this time. 

Among German material captured by the Yankee Division 
were the following: — 

Field Artillery Pieces 31 

Trench Artillery Pieces 23 

Light and Heavy Machine Guns 163 

Rifles 830 

Total 1047 

171 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

The following casualty list of the 26th Division in Battle 
is not entirely correct. The total casualties of the 26th Division 
now numbers over 14,000. 

Officers Men Totals 

Killed 78 1652 1730 

Wounded Severely ... 100 3524 3624 

Wounded Slightly .... Ill 2708 2819 

Gassed 113 3250 3363 

Missing 10 273 283 

Taken Prisoner 9 127 136 



Totals 421 11,534 11,955 

Grand Total 11,955. 

ENEMY TERRITORY TAKEN IN BATTLE 

Offensive Date Depth 

Aisne-Marne or the 

Second Battle of the July 18-25, 1918 17.5 kilometers 
Marne 

St. Mihiel Sept. 12-13, 1918 14 kilometers 

Meuse-Argonne Oct. 18 to Nov. 5.5 kilometers 

11, 1918 
Total depth of advance, 37 kilometers. 

The 51st Field Artillery Brigade of the 26th Division, 
composed of the 101st F. A., 102d F. A. and the 103d F. A. 
and the Divisional Artillery operated with the division during 
all activities. 

Following the relief of the division in the Aisne-Marne 
or Chateau-Thierry Offensive on July 25, 1918, the 51st Bri- 
gade kept on operating with the Infantry of the 29th, 42d 
and 4th divisions until relieved on August 4, 1918. 

172 



WITH FIGHTING BATTERY C 

The 51st F. A. Brigade made a total advance of 41 kilo- 
meters in the Chateau-Thierry Drive. This is by far the larg- 
est advance ever made by any similar unit of the American 
Army. 

The total depth of advance of the 51st Field Artillery 
Brigade is 60.5 kilometers. 

Important features of the land in the different sectors 
held by the Yankee division : 

€hemin-des-Dames sector — 

(a) The Chemin-des-Dames 

(b) Fort Malmaison 

(c) Chavignon Valley 

(d) Laffoux Valley 

(e) Finon Woods 

(f) Cheval Mont Hill 

(g) Aisne River 

(h) Rouge Maison (cave) 

(i) Rochepont (cave) 
La Reine and Bouc or Toul Sector — 

(a) Montsec 

(b) Bois Brule (Apremont Woods) 

(c) Seichprey (Remieries Woods and Jury Woods) 

(d) Xivray-Marvoison 

(e) Dead Man's Curve 
(f) Hell's Half Acre 

Aisne-Marne or Chateau Thierry Offensive — 

(a) Belleau Woods 

(b) Hill 190 

(c) Hill 204 

(d) Vaux 

(e) Bouresches railroad station 

(f) Trugny Woods 

(g) Epieds 

(h) Vesle River 

173 



SMASHING THROUGH THE "WORLD WAR" 

(i) Croix Rouge Farm 

(j) St. Marie Farm 

(k) Fere Woods 

(1) Jaulgonne Fere-en-Tardonois Highway 

(m) Sergy 

(n) Nesles 

(o) Fismes 
St. Mihiel Offensive — 

(a) Rupt-en-Woerve 

(b) Rupt Woods 

(c) Nouilly 

(d) Les Eparge 

(e) Vigneulles 

(f) Hattonehatel 

(g) Dommarlin 

(h) Bois-de-St. Remy 
(i) St. Remy 
Meuse-Argonne Offensive — 

(a) Marcheville 

(b) Bois Belles 
(e) Hill 360 

(d) Bois d'Haumont 

(e) Bois d'Etrayes 

(f) Les Houppy Bois 

(g) La Wavrille 

(h) Bois de Ville derant Chaumont 
(i) Cote de Tolon 
The 104th Infantry of the 26th Division, formerly the. 
old 2d, 6th and 8th Mass. Infantry, M. V. M., after the battle 
in the Bois-Brule at Apremont, was cited in G. 0. No. 737-A 
hq. 32d Army Corps (French) on April 29, 1918 and had its 
colors decorated with the Croix-de-Guerre by General Passaga 
of the French Army. At this time the 104th was the only 
American regiment in the entire American Army to have its 
colors decorated by a foreign Government. 

174 



THE AMERICAN LEGION 

An outgrowth of the World War was a veteran associa- 
tion open to ex-soldiers, sailors, marines, army and navy nurses 
in fact all who can show an honorable discharge from the naval 
or military forces of the country, who took part in the great 
war, it gives all the opportunity to meet on a common ground, 
to weld the friendships formed during the war and it also 
gives a protecting agency for those who gave their service to 
the country, when it was in danger. 

The American Legion was born in Paris. The first cau- 
cus was held in Paris March 15 to 17, 1919 and was attended 
by nearly a thousand delegates of all ranks, from privates to 
Generals. They represented every combat division and every 
branch of the S. 0. S., in fact every organization of the A. 
E. F. was represented. This delegation founded the American 
Legion. They started the wheels in motion. Brig. General 
John H. Sherburne of the 51st F. A. Brigade, was one of 
principal founders of the Legion and to him is due much credit 
for its prosi)erity. 

The next step in the organization of this great body was 
the St. Louis Convention on May 8, 9, and 10, 1919, when the 
work of organizing the Legion was really begun. 

Col. John F. J. Herbert of the 102d F. A. was named tem- 
porary State Chairman of Massachusetts, a better man could 
not have been found for this gigantic task. Colonel Herbert 
started out immediately to organize the Legion in Massachu- 
setts and his work thus far has been a brilliant success. 

The local Post, No. 15, received its charter in June, 1919. 
The Post has been making rapid strides and promises to be one 
of the strongest and most active Posts in Massachusetts. 

The American Legion promises to be one of the greatest 
organizations for good in the community. State and country 
that the United States has ever known. Politics are abso- 

175 



THE AMERICAN LEGION 

lutely barred from the organization. Vigorous resolutions 
have been adopted. It has pledged itself to take an active 
part in all civic questions, promote and champion all things 
that are of benefit to the people and rigidly oppose all those 
that will be of harm and that are not just. It stands for 100 
percent Americanism and nothing less. 

Following is the preamble of the constitution of the Amer- 
ican Legion: 

"For God and Country we associate ourselves together 
for the following purposes : — 

"To uphold and defend the constitution of the United 
States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and 
perpetuate a one hundred per cent Americanism ; to preserve 
the memories and incidents of our association in the Great 
War; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the com- 
munity, State and nation ; to combat the autocracy of both the 
classes and the masses ; to make right the master of might ; to 
promote peace and good will on earth ; to safeguard and trans- 
mit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democ- 
racy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our de- 
votion to mutual helpfulness." 



FINIS 



176 



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